The Origins of Greek
Theater
Thespis: The First Actor EVER!
(In the Western World)
Sophocles made several innovations to
Greek Drama
Human rather than religious concerns
 Intro of 3rd actor
 Larger chorus (from 12 to 15)
 Painted sets
 Some strong female roles
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Sophocles: born in 496BC, died in 406BC!
The Function of the Greek
Chorus
Divided the scenes
 Represented the common viewpoint
 Represented the conscience of the
protagonist/devil’s advocate
 Danced, sang, chanted - got the audience
involved
 Choragos: Leader of the chorus
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6th Century BC
(535BC – Debut of Thespis)
City States (Athens, Thebes, Sparta, Corinth)
 Festival of Dionysos (god of partying)
 Dramatists submitted 3 plays and 1 satyr (short comedy)
 Funded by private and public money
 All could attend (but mostly men)
 Foreign dignitaries invited
 Audience is active, even aggressive
 Sparse, only most necessary details included - sets up
later questions
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Ancient Greek Theaters
Amphitheaters - outdoors
 Could seat up to 14,000 people
 Built on hillsides, spectacular views
 Great acoustics
 Skene – building behind stage (dressing
room) painting as backdrop
 Orchestra – below stage, where chorus
danced
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Staging of Plays
Festival of Dionysos (god of wine and
fertility)
 Prologue – established conflict, exposition
 Parodos – entrance of chorus
 4 scenes – build up and resolve conflict
 Scenes separated by Odes or Stasimon
(strophes and antistrophes) by chorus
 Exodos -resolution
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Staging Continued
Actors wore giant masks with funnel
mouthpieces
 They wore platform shoes
 Stories based on myths/legends
 No violence on stage – only reports of it
 Cranes brought in ghosts or gods
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The Oedipus Trilogy by
Sophocles
Written: Antigone, Oedipus the King,
Oedipus at Colonus
 Chronology: Oedipus the King, Oedipus at
Colonus, Antigone
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Terms and Definitions
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Tragic Flaw: Character flaw that brings about the
demise of a character
Literary Foil: Mirror image. A character with opposite
traits to the protagonist, or one with similar traits.
Situational Irony: The opposite of what we expect
happens
Dramatic Irony: Audience knows what character does
not know
Decorum: Proper behavior and dress in literature and
plays
Hamartia: Archery term for missing of the mark – error
that causes downfall
Roles of Women
Subservient to men
 Victims and innocent bystanders
 To be seen and not heard
 In change of the home, kids, and slaves
 Necessary for procreation, but not fit for
intellectual companionship
 Considered the property of men
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Athens in the Ancient Greek World
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Golden Age: 479 to 404 BC
Defeated the Persians in 479 BC
Fell to Sparta in 404 BC
Democracy was born here
Athletics was important
Art flourished
Science thrived
Philosophy ruled
Athens was a beacon of civilization. Many of our
modern western ideas about government, literature
and the arts, and science came from here.