Context. Flashcards
What was a polis?
A city state.
What were some components of a Greek Theatre?
- An audience of over 10, 000. This audience would be experienced, maybe having been in the chorus themselves.
- All roles would’ve been played by men.
- Drama was only performed at festivals and sacrifces were held before plays. These demonstrate the aspect of worship.
What was the Lenea?
This was a festival held in late January. Competitions for comedy and tragedy were held. This was just for Athenians (as the seas were too rough for anyone else to travel). Comedy seems to have been more important than tragedy.
What was the Rural Dionysia?
This was a festival held in mid-Winter and celebrated in the rural communities in Attica, known as Demes.
What were Demes?
These were roughly comparable to villages today. One has been identified in Thorikos.
Why was the Rural Dionysia significant in the development of Greek Theatre?
It was a major platform for the performance of early Greek tragedies and comedies.
What was the ‘Komos’?
This was a revel! It was basically lots of men drinking wine (Dionysus’ domain).
What was the parade of tribute?
The money from the subject-allies of Athens were presented to the theatre.
What was the proclamation of honours?
A crown was awarded to citizens who have done great things for the city.
What was the parade of orphans?
Boys whose fathers had died fighting for Athens were paraded into the theatre.
What was a ‘Dithyramb’?
This was a choral dance sung in honour of Dionysus.
What was a ‘tribe’?
A political division in Athens. All Athenian citizens were members of one of the ten tribes.
Tell me a bit about Aristotle’s Poetics - can they be trusted?
- These were written about one hundred years after the plays we’re studying, so we can’t be sure that these views were shared by a fifth century Athenian audience.
- Csapo and Slater seem to think that they were “ill-written lecture notes” and not intended to be seen.
- Later additions may’ve also been made.
What was the ‘Mechane’?
This was a crane! It was positioned behind the Skene and used to hoist characters into the air. It was mainly used for gods and goddesses, so it would’ve been shocking when Medea was raised.
The Birth of Tragedy:
- 534 is the date when tragedy was first performed at the City Dionysia.
- The Second half of the sixth century was when drama was usually first performed.
- Peistratus seems to have instigated the City Dionysia that developed out of rural festivals.
- This was probably after Athens incoporated the Eleutherae into their territory (where there was a cult centre to Dionysus).
What was the Theatron?
The seating area in a Greek Theatre.
What was the Prohedria?
The front row seating in the theatron, reserved for the VIPs.
What was the Orchestra?
This was at the front of the stage, where the chorus would perform (meaning “dancing space” as they also danced in earlier periods).
What was the Eisodos (or parados)?
The entry way into the Orchestra from each side of the theatre.
What was the Skene?
The wooden hut used as a backdrop and for actors to change.
What did the Skene contain?
A trap door that led to its roof. Gods often appeared here.
What was the Ekkyklema?
This was a wooden platform on wheels brought onto stage which showed a scene that had happened off stage (bodies would often be wheeled on from the Ekkyklema for instance).
What was the Mechane?
This was a device which raised an actor above the level of the Skene building (Medea appears to be using this in the Medea escape vase).
What was an aulos?
A double-reed musical instrument, similiar to an oboe.
