visual sources

Question 1

theatre of thorikos

Answer 1

• in use late 6th or early 5th century
• regional theatre of Attica
• capacity of 2000-3000
• rectangular shape
• stage located between a temple and altar
• numbers above the centre of the front row and slabs of white marble in the centre of the front row, suggesting important people sat there

Question 2

theatre of dionysus

Answer 2

• located above sanctuary to dionysus and at the eastern foot of the acropolis, protecting it from wind in the winter
• in use from sixth century BC
• semi circular, for good acoustics, built on a hill, for a good view
• capacity of 17,000 spectators
• there are prohedria, the central seat is reserved for the priest of dionysus
• low wooden stage behind the orchestra where main actors performed
• circular orchestra between audience and actors

Question 3

perseus dance vase

Answer 3

c.420 BC
- only vase showing a stage and the audience
- use of klismoi wooden chairs
- bodysuit ‘stage naked’
- prop- sickle
- vase is damaged

Question 4

medeas’ escape

Answer 4

c.400 BC
- shows use of crane to help her fly away and wheel platform as an altar on which their children lie dead (in the original she takes the children with her)
- winged furies show use of costume (not in the original play)

Question 5

wurzburg telephus vase

Answer 5

c. 380-370 BC
- scene from Aristophanes’ women at the thesmophoria
- south italian, demonstrating that plays were reperformed there
- use of props in mirror, wine bag (disguised as a baby), altar, bowl, knife
- Euripides convinced an older male relative to dress up as a woman and infiltrate the womens-only festival to speak on his behalf as the women were discussing what to do because Euripides had negatively portrayed them
- use of costumes and masks, humorous in that a man is dressed as a woman, within a play where a man is dressed as a woman

Question 6

basel dancers vase

Answer 6

500-490 BC
- shows a tragic chorus- three pairs of young men dancing towards an altar
- letters coming from their mouths, suggesting singing
- use of masks
- use of altar- wheeled platform- from which either a ghost or an icon of dionysus emerges

Question 7

pronomos vase

Answer 7

410 BC
- southern italian
- showing tragic actors and chorus members off stage in costume preparing for a satyr play
- actors have their real names inscribed beside them
- pronomos is the autos player in the centre of the scene
- Demetrios holding a scroll- maybe the playwright

Question 8

phiale painter

Answer 8

450 BC
- two tragic actors or chorus members getting into costume, both men dressing up as women
- use of masks
- mask on the floor is serious in expression and has a woman’s hairstyle
- high boots which thin, soft soles and turned up toes, allowing for easy movement
- in a tragedy there were 3 actors, they are changing as they would have to play multiple characters

Question 9

choregos

Answer 9

400-380 BC
- south italian
- shows comic actors as well as tragic ones
- aegisthus comes from skene, tragic actor
- 3 comic figures with grotesque masks
- middle one stands on basket- pyrrhias
- other two- choregos
- costumes- short tunics exposing phalluses, emphasising padding around behind and stomach

Question 10

gela painter

Answer 10

480 BC
- two dancing bearded figures dressed as birds- tails, wings, purple breasts and feathers
- two playing the aulos
- the idea of animal choruses predates aristophanes’ use of them

Question 11

cheiron vase

Answer 11

c.380-370 BC
- southern italian, showing a scene from a comedy
- costumes- short tunic, visible phallus, padded stomach
- two nymphs with more serious costumes
use of farce and slapstick
- masks
- xanthius=blondie, slave
- use of skene

Question 12

capodarso painter

Answer 12

c.330 BC
- showing a scene from oedipus
- jocasta showing standard gesture to indicate grief and worry in tragedy
- oedipus puzzled, stroking his beard
- messenger answering questions
- columns represent the skene
- messenger is making theatrical gestures, facing the audience

Question 13

dinos painter

Answer 13

late 5th century BC.
- depiction of worship of Dionysus
- female worshippers- maenads, dancing around state fastened to a pillar, tossing hair, carrying instruments eg. tambourine, thyrsus
- wearing animal skins
- ivy- associated with dionysus
- dionysus is a statue/icon- no legs or arms

Question 14

death of pentheus

Answer 14

480 BC
- panther skins
- ripped of torso with body parts hanging out
- satyr oversees the event- reminder that it is happening under dionysus’ watch
- LONG PREDATES EURIPEDES’ ACCOUNT!