The Religious Context Of The Dramatic Festivals

Question 1

When and where was theatre born ?

Answer 1

Athens during the second half of the sixth century BC

Question 2

How did the context of plays performed in ancient Athens differ to modern day ?

Answer 2

Drama was performed only at religious festivals
Athenians couldn’t simply go to a theatre and watch a play

Question 3

What was a key element of the Athenian dramatic festival ?

Answer 3

Competition
A number of playwrights entered plays written for the occasion

Question 4

What were ancient Athenian dramatic festivals associated with ?

Answer 4

They were intimately associated with the worship of Dionysus

Question 5

What was Dionysus the god of ?

Answer 5

Drama
Wine
Revelry

Question 6

What else were the festivals important for ?

Answer 6

The Polis- Athens

Question 7

What is a polis ?

Answer 7

The word for a Greek city state
The polish of Athens consisted of the city and its surrounding area, Attica

Also used to describe the political entity and land it controlled

Question 8

Were festivals limited to the city itself ?

Answer 8

No

Question 9

When were the festivals to Dionysus generally held ?

Answer 9

In the winter months

Question 10

What is a deme ?

Answer 10

A village or district in Attica