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Festivals and theatre context Flashcards

1
Q

What three events took place on the first day of the festival?

A

The pompe, dithyrambic contests and the komos

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2
Q

What events happened on day two of the festival?

A

Opening ceremony (priest of Dionysus sacrificed a piglet on the altar in the acting area, the city’s ten generals poured libations to the twelve Olympian gods, the parade of tribute, the proclamation of honours, and the parade of orphans) and five comedy plays

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3
Q

What events took place on day three of the festival?

A

Three tragedies and one satyr play

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4
Q

What events took place on day four of the festival?

A

Three tragedies and one satyr play

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5
Q

What events took place on day five of the festival?

A

Three tragedies and one satyr play then judging and prize giving

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6
Q

What happened a few days after the festival?

A

The review

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7
Q

Who was the eponymous archon?

A

Leading politician responsible for running the entire festival

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8
Q

What was the pompe?

A

A grand religious procession starting outside the city and ending up at the theatre of Dionysus where a shared bull was then sacrificed (among other animals)

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9
Q

What were dithyrambic contests?

A

Choral dances performed by each Athenian tribe in honour of Dionysus

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10
Q

What was the komos?

A

A loosely organised revel through the streets with song and dance

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11
Q

What was the parade of tribute?

A

Tribute money from all the subject-allies of the Athenian empire was brought into the theatre and paraded for the audience to view.

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12
Q

What was the proclamation of honours?

A

A herald announced the names of those who had done outstanding services for the city, and awarded them a crown.

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13
Q

What was the parade of orphans?

A

The boys and youths whose fathers had died fighting for Athens were paraded into the theatre. The state paid for their education as a mark of respect for their fathers’ sacrifice. Those who has turned eighteen that year were awarded a suit of armour and declared independent citizens.

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14
Q

When did the tradition of theatre start in Athens?

A

second half of sixth century BC

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15
Q

When were plays performed in ancient Athens?

A

During religious festivals

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16
Q

To what god were plays performed in honour of?

A

Dionysus

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17
Q

Define polis

A

a Greek city state

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18
Q

What did the polis of Athens consist of?

A

Athens and its surrounding region, Attica

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19
Q

At what time of year were festivals of Dionysus usually held?

A

Winter months

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20
Q

At what time of year was the City Dionysia held?

A

late March

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21
Q

At what time of year was the Lenaea held?

A

late January

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22
Q

At what time of year was the Rural Dionysia held?

A

mid-winter

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23
Q

Where was the Lenaea hosted?

A

Athens

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24
Q

Where was the Rural Dionysia hosted?

A

rural demes of Attica

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25
What is a deme?
village or district of Attica
26
What was the Lenaea?
drama festival with competitions for comedy and tragedy
27
What genre of theatre took precedence at the Lenaea?
Comedy
28
Who attended the Lenaea and why
Athenian citizens only as seas were too rough for foreigners to travel an attend
29
What was the rural Dionysia?
drama festival with revivals of plays performed at two main city festivals
30
Who attended the City Dionysia?
Athenian citizens and foreigners
31
What is a choregos?
The financial backer attached to a playwright to support the production of his plays
32
What was a liturgy?
a tax on the super-rich requiring them to contribute to the functioning of Athens
33
Why was it good for the City Dionysia to be held in late March?
- Dionysus' role to encourage new growth links with new growth in springtime - Sailing season had started so visitors from abroad could attend and Athenians could show off their wealth
34
What happened in the city of Athens during days of the festivals?
public business ceased, law courts were closed, prisoners were given day-release to watch the plays
35
Name three events that took place during the City Dionysia other than the theatrical contests
processions, sacrifices and choral competitions
36
What was the daily wage of a skilled worker?
one drachma
37
What was the Odeion?
A covered concert hall next to the theatre of Dionysus
38
What was the proagon?
an event to introduce the plays and the casts that would perform them
39
When did the proagon take place?
a day or two before the festival
40
Where did the proagon take place?
the odeion
41
What happened the night before the the festival begun?
a torchlit procession that brought a wooden statue of Dionysus into the city and to the theatre of Dionysus, where a sacrifice was made
42
What was the purpose of the torchlit procession?
re-enacted Dionysus' arrival in Athens
43
What was the purpose of the wooden statue of Dionysus?
to remain at the theatre of Dionysus throughout the festival as a symbol of the god's presence
44
How many tribes were in Athens?
ten
45
What happened during the opening ceremony of the City Dionysia?
priest of Dionysus sacrificed a piglet on the altar in the acting area, and the city's ten generals poured libations to the twelve olympian gods
46
What events took place after the grand opening ceremony of the City Dionysia?
parade of tributes, proclamation of honours and parade of orphans
47
How much did entry to the theatre cost each day?
two obols
48
What was the daily wage of an unskilled worker?
two obols
49
How was the location of the theatre of Dionysus both practical and symbolic?
Practically: located on southern side of Acropolis, so was protected from cold north winds that blew in winter months Symbolically: located between the Acropolis - religious heart of the city - and the sanctuary of Dionysus
50
What was the seating area in a Greek theatre called?
the theatron
51
Who sat in the front row of seats in the theatre?
officials and dignitaries
52
What was the front row of seats in a Greek theatre called?
the prohedria
53
Who sat in the front centre seat in the theatre of Dionysus?
Priest of Dionysus
54
What was the capacity of the theatre of Dionysus?
roughly 6000 people
55
What was the orchestra?
dancing area in front of the theatron where the chorus performed
56
What is the significance of the chorus performing between the stage and audience?
fits with their role of mediating the action for spectators
57
What was the significance of an altar being situated in the orchestra?
It was a reminder of the god watching over the festival
58
What was the capacity of the theatre of Thorikos?
roughly 3000 people
59
What is a skene?
a wooden hut with double doors onto the stage used as a changing room for actors and backdrop for the play
60
How many actors were allowed on stage at a time in tragedies?
three, although minor characters such as children could also appear and were sometimes given a line or two)
61
How many people made up a tragic chorus?
12 then 15 in later years
62
what was the role of the chorus?
- Being part of the action, for example portraying local townsfolk - Scene setting, such as giving important background information - Commentating on the action and offering moral opinions - Giving wider context to the events of the play by connecting them to other myths or through commentary - Offering background mood and setting, for example building suspense before an act of violence - Creating breaks between scenes to allow actors to leave the stage and change costume
63
Define monody
A solo song by an actor, often sung at moments of great distress
64
Define Kommos
A formal song performed at moments of heightened emotion involving dialogue between an actor and the chorus
65
What would a tragic costume typically consist of?
A chiton, himation, and kothornoi
66
What was a chiton?
A full-length robe, often ornately decorated
67
What was a himation?
A cloak reaching down to the knees
68
What were Kothornoi?
Soft leather boots that reached up to the thigh
69
What elements did Aristotle claim made a good tragedy?
- hamartia - peripeteia - anagnorisis - (and catharsis)
70
What did Aristotle say defined a tragic hero?
Someone of high status who is neither morally perfect nor despicable, but falls into bad fortune through a mistake (hamartia)
71
Define hamartia
A mistake that leads to a disastrous outcome
72
What were the three elements a tragic plot line should have?
- suffering - recognition (anagnorisis) - reversal (peripeteia) - (and the plot should be complex)
73
Define catharsis
cleansing, purification, or purging of negative emotions
74
Define peripeteia
A terrible reversal of fortune in a tragedy
75
Define anagnorisis
the point at which a principal character recognises or discovers their own or someone else's true identity, or the true nature of their own circumstances
76
How many people made up a comic chorus?
twenty-four - sometimes split into two choruses of twelve
77
How many actors were allowed on stage at a time in comedies?
four
78
What did a comic costume typically consist of?
A short tunic, cloak reaching just below the waist, tights, thick padding, and a oversized leather phallus
79
Define agon
A formal debate in which the playwright can showcase opposing arguments
80
Define parabasis
A section of a comedy in which the chorus addresses the audience directly, speaking in the voice of the playwright

Classics (11 decks)

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