Clas 201 Exam 3 Flashcards
Orchestra
Primarily a dancing ground for the chorus
Early days - square; later days - circular
Chorus would dance and sing and would interact with primary characters
Chorus
12-15 actors with a group identity; grew larger overtime
Wore masks
Persian chorus - upper class Persian elders who took government positions while Xerxes was gone
Theatron
Where the spectators sat
“Viewing place”
Hillside overlooking the orchestra
People were packed in tight; this created community
Skene
Building directly behind the stage
The stage is separate from the orchestra
Actors were on the stage, chorus was on the orchestra
Early - just a tent structure; at least 1 set of doors with roof access from behind
Also served as a dressing and prop room
Parados (pl. Parodoi)
Where chorus made their exit/entrance; “the road beside”
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Label the parts of a Greek theater
Theatron
Parados Orchestra Parados
Skene
Performance of a Greek Tragedy
Involved music, singing, and dancing (elaborate choreography)
Similar to opera rather than plays
Only performed by men (they also played female roles)
We don’t know if women were allowed to go to plays
Dionysia
“Things having to do with Dionysus”
Religious festival held in Athens once a year; fertility festival; arrival of spring
Tragedies viewed
Lasted 5 days; 3 days of tragedies
3 poets competing - 1 poet per day, 4 plays - 3 tragedies and 1 lighthearted
Winner got a crown made of ivy (had symbolic value)
Aeschylus
Oldest of 3 famed tragedians (other 2 Sophocles and Euripides)
Born 525 BCE died around 456 BCE; Classical Age
Privileged; lofty language, religious sensibility; valorized patriotism
Only have 6 extant plays; often an actor in his own plays
13 victories
Fought at the Battle of Marathon
The Chorus of the Persians
Battle of Salamis as seen from the Persian side; sympathetic to the Persians
Based on historical events; presented in 472 BCE
Persian Susa; tomb of Darius nearby (previous king)
Opening of play is chorus singing and introducing themselves; trusted with looking over the country while Xerxes is away
Mentions individual socio-economic elite Persians and allies
Xerxes’ Bridging of the Hellespont
Straight of Hellespont (Dardanelles); separates Europe from Asia; famous accomplishment for Xerxes
Planks over tops of boats to make a ‘road’
Going beyond propriety; hubristic; going beyond Poseidon
Proskonesis
Bowing down of 1 person before another; Greeks didn’t practice this; Persians had to when greeting royalty
Gives a view of hierarchical society in Persia
The Persian Queen
Bedmate and mother of a god
Fears that Xerxes and kingdom are in peril
Dream and bird omen
The Queen’s Dream
2 beautiful women (sisters) wearing Persian and Doran clothing; start squabbling
Xerxes places the women under a yoke strip; Persian women becomes obedient, but Greek women fights back; can’t get Greece under his control
Greeks and Persians are related (share ancestors)
The Queen’s Bird Omen
Hawk swoops down on eagle; eagle cowers in fear
Eagle - Persian empire; Hawk - Greece (Apollo)
Symbolizes flight of Persians when they flee Greece; Greeks will get their revenge against Persians
Trireme and Naval Warfare
Trireme - ancient warship; 3 levels of oars; most important warship in Mediterranean
Greeks had 300 ships, Persians had 1,000
Some god aided Greeks
Huge bronze prow (440+ pounds); main part of trireme warfare (rammed other ships)
Persians were tightly squished together, began ramming one another
Psytallia
Island between Athens and Salamis; Xerxes placed land forces here (best warriors)
Planned to kill any Greeks who washed up, but the Persian soldiers were killed
After sea battle, put on hoplite armor; losses are hurtful for Persians
Hubris (insolence, haughtiness)
Someone is acting out above their station
Ex. Xerxes bridges Hellespont; boastful Persian nation is going to be destroyed
Reversal of fortune; Queen offers libations in hopes to win favor of Darius
The Ghost of Darius
Darius is fed, Darius appears, brings only bad news
Powerful divinity put Xerxes out of his right mind; goes beyond propriety (acts of hubris)
Darius’ Prophecy of Plateia
“Requital of godless arrogance” for Persians because they burned down Greek temples and such; more suffering is to come
Kommos
Sung lament between an actor and the chorus; 1 actor and choral body; very emotionally overwhelmed
Lamentation, sad singing, Xerxes returns to Persia
Schadenfreude or compassion?
Some of audience probably fought at Salamis
Does Athenian audience feel compassion for the Persians?
The Classical Age (480 BCE-338 BCE) and the Pentecontaetia
Pentecontaetia - 50 year period
From Sparta to Athens
Greeks were fascinated by the Persians
Pausanias started acting like a Persian
Hubris - Ate
Ionians wanted Athenians to be in charge of Greek forces
Delian League
New alliance led by Athens
Hegemon - leader; Athens was the hegemon
Alliance kept money in Delos; money paid to Athens as tribute
Allies became subordinate; Athenian Empire - development of power
Ekklesia (Assembly)
Collective assembly of Athenians; all Athenians who wanted to come showed up
Met 40 times per year; 10 month year; met 4 times every month
Held at Pnyx
Three Important Magistrates
The Polemarch: in charge of the army; Polem - army; commander in chief of military
The Archon Basileus: Basileus - king; ‘king ruler’; doesn’t define what he had control of; in charge of religious life
The Eponymous Archon: Eponymous - something that is names after something/somebody else; year is named after this archon; chief civic officer; oversaw Ekklesia and Boule
Making democracy more democratic
Could take breaks to serve civic duties (jury duty)
Public subsidies - allowed poor people access to religious events
Increasingly chosen by lot (chance), not by class
Power being given to less privileged peoples
Boule (Council)
Group of people elected to manage affairs of city
500 men; chosen by lot; most men would serve at least once in their lifetime
Prepared agenda for Ekklesia
Areopagus
Group of individuals - fulfilled judicial function; served as a court; made up of ex-archons
Also referred to where they met; the Hill of Ares
Magistrates who would adjudicate trials; held position for 1 year
Deme (little), Tribe (middle), Polis (big)
Deme: smallest division; kind of like neighborhoods; 139 demes; enrolled as citizens in demes
Tribes: 10 groups
Polis: all Athenian citizens members of polis of Athens; Polis level institutions were replicated on lower levels
Athenian Law Courts
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Important for democracy; very proud of this
Juries could be huge 0 size made tampering with it very difficult
IMAGE ID - Athenian voting machine; kleroterion; jury chosen at random with this; card goes in slots and out tube
Added element of random selection; made bribery harder
Athens’ Empire in Crisis
Persians became less of a threat; Athenians continued to demand tribute; picked on smaller territories
Sparta became distrustful and wary of Delian League
480-430 BCE: Athens became richer and crueler; became hubristic
Dominance over allies would lead to crisis; subjected peoples wanted/did revolt
Athenian Colonies and Cleruchies
Colonies independent; not the case with Athenian colonies
Tool of Athenian hegemonic project
Clerochies similar to colonies; remained Athenian citizens; obligated to provide Athenian military service subordinated local peoples
Democracy and Empire Intertwined
Navy - lowest classes; gigantic; trireme - 150 rowers
Collected tribute, subordinated others
Greater interest in navy being powerful
Got very rich
Acropolis
Acro-high, Polis-city-state - high city-state; all Greek cities had these
Fortified location where citizens could retreat if attacked; sacred buildings located here
Defense, but also daily basis worship
Tribute paid by Delian League (allies)
Parthenon
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Parthenos - virgin; Athena - virgin goddess
Parthenon - temple of the virgin
For Athena, patroness of Athens
8 columns on front, 17 on side (double count corners)
Columns
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Doric Order: no decorative piece, thicker at bottom, simple
Ionic Order: footing; circular whirlies on top
Corinthian Order:
3 level footing, leaves and roses on top
Athena Parthenos
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Athena Parthenos with Nike in hand
Athena the virgin; 40 feet tall, gold and ivory, very valuable
Nike - victory; 6 feet tall, references aid given to Athenians at Salamis
Made by Pheidias
Statue no longer exists
Was in a vault at the back of the Parthenon
East Pediment of the Parthenon
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Triangular top; (always) elaborately painted
Birth of Athena from the head of Zeus; myth depicted
Athena is soon to be child of Metis; Zeus swallowed Metis; Athena bore herself from Zeus’ head with shield and sword in hand
Wanted to display Athens’ connection to Athena’s birth story
West Pediment of the Parthenon
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Myth depicted; olive tree creation myth
Contest between Poseidon and Athena for control of “Athens”
Usefulness of offering to inhabitants
Poseidon struck Acropolis; created a saltwater spring
Athena created an olive tree - more useful so she wins
Etiological myth
Athena on right; spear and shield in hand
Poseidon on left; trident in hand
Constructing an identity around Athena (self-importance)
Propylaea
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“Gateway”
Gateway to the Acropolis; can be closed
Never completely finished, but usable
Pollution - turning buildings to dust
Facade is DORIC; wide entrance to accommodate large processions with animals for sacrifice
2 main functions - protects Acropolis; delineates sacred space from non-sacred space
Temple of Athena Nike
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2 goddesses get fused into 1 at this temple; power merges - very powerful
Small temple, near entrance to Acropolis
Deep sense of pride for longevity of inhabitance in Athens
Columns are IONIC
Ancient wooden image; shield and pomegranate
Pomegranate symbolizes fertility
Parapet - low wall; Nike performing various actions
Athens had Athena and Nike on their side; civic identity