The greek theater It was the product of an evolution of the festivals in honor of the gods of the people of Ancient Greece. Specifically, it was about the festivals in honor of the god Dionysus, called Dionysias. Its origins date back to Athens around the 6th century BC. and V a.C. and it was the most representative cultural manifestation of this civilization.
Although Athens was the main center of these theatrical traditions, the Athenians spread these festivals to their many allies to promote a common identity. These celebrations included various competitions, which were another way to honor a god. There were music, poetry, drama and athletics competitions.
The Dionysus festivals inspired the genres of Greek tragedy and comedy. Both were hugely popular and the performances spread throughout the Mediterranean, influencing Hellenistic and Roman theater. Thus, the works of great Greek dramatists formed the foundation on which all modern theater was built..
The Greek tragedy had as its background a mythological or epic theme based on the suffering arising from a conflict. The end of the play was marked by the death of the main protagonists. The language was cultured and elevated, and the identification of the public with the hero produced in the spectator a purification that freed him from his own problems..
For its part, the background of the Greek comedy was festive and mocking. Criticism and mockery of situations and characters gave comedy its reason for existence. His characters were varied and could be real or invented. The language used was vulgar. At the end of the play, the triumph of the comic hero (the weak and ingenious one) induced the catharsis of the audience.
Article index
The exact origins of the tragedy within the Greek theater is still a matter of debate among scholars. Some have linked the emergence of the genre to an earlier art form, the lyrical representation of epic poetry. Others, for their part, suggest a strong link with the rituals performed in the worship of Dionysus (god of wine).
Proponents of the latter theory offer as evidence the sacrifice of goats, a song ritual called trag-ōdia, and the use of masks. These elements were part of the cult of this god and could also be seen in tragic works.
They also explain that drinking rites led worshipers to lose total control of their emotions. The comparison was made against the fact that the actors (called hypocrite) had to become someone else when they performed. This group of scholars consider Dionysus as the god of theater.
On the other hand, etymologically, tragedy comes from the words drinks (goat) and ode (song). The defenders of the Dionysian theory assumed that it had to do with the dithyrambs (hymns to the god Dionysus) of the small towns. In the dithyrambs, the interpreters wore he-goat skins and imitated the "caper" (somersaults).
Etymologically, the word comedy comes from komoidía, and is derived from the Greek komos (procession of troupes that sang and danced). These troupes roamed the streets sharing songs and jokes with the spectators during the Dionisias.
In itself, the precise origins of comedy works in Greek theater are not known with certainty. However, it is suspected that it dated back long before written records. It is thought to be related to the custom of men who dressed up to imitate others.
Now, the first signs of such activity in the Greek world were discovered through pottery. The decoration in the 6th century BC. C. frequently depicted actors disguised as horses, satyrs, and dancers in exaggerated costumes.
On the other hand, another possible origin the poems of Archilochus (7th century BCE) and Hipponax (6th century BCE). These contained crude and explicit sexual humor. A third origin, defended by Aristotle, was found in the phallic songs that were sung during the Dionysian festivals. These songs were similar to dithyrambic and nomic poetry.
As regards tragedy, scholars of Greek theater trace its beginnings to the Greek poet Thespis (Athens, 6th century BC). According to ancient tradition, Thespis was the first actor in the Greek drama.
He was often called the inventor of tragedy, and his name was recorded as the first to stage a tragedy on the Great Dionysia (534 BC)..
According to Aristotle, the tragedy was totally choral until this Greek playwright presented the prologue and internal discourses. This was the first to intertwine the choral song with the speeches of an actor. Likewise, the tragic dialogue began when Thespis exchanged dialogues with the leader of the choir.
As for comedy, historical sources cite that, at first, these were improvised. Later, they were organized and structured. Like tragedy, its appearance as a genre of Greek theater was associated with the festivals in honor of the god Dionysus that had been celebrated since 442 BC..
In this sense, Aristophanes (446 BC-386 BC) is considered “the father of comedy”. He is also assigned the title of "Prince of Ancient Comedy." Aristophanes is said to have recreated the life of ancient Athens more convincingly than any other author.
His ridiculing abilities were feared and recognized by influential contemporaries. One of his works, Clouds (considered as a slander), contributed to the trial and subsequent death sentence of the philosopher Socrates.
Like the genre, the physical structure to host the show was of Greek creation. Although it underwent modifications over time, the following elements were maintained and are distinctive of the structure:
All the cast members of the Greek theater were men. These were called hypocrites. Like athletes, they had to be able to endure long performances in cumbersome masks and costumes..
On the other hand, the role of the protagonist (protagonist) of the work was assigned to a tenor. Meanwhile, the second in leading importance (deuteragonist) was assigned to a baritone. Closing the cast, the third role in order of relevance (tritagonist) was for a bass.
Participants in Greek plays were conferred divine status because they often acted as deities. They were grouped into a guild of actors, called "the artists of Dionisio", and were exempt from military service. During the purely Greek stage, the stars of the theater frequently came to demand outrageous salaries.
Within the Greek theater, the choir became the key to understanding its meaning and purpose. Historians claimed they were the core from which the tragedy evolved.
In their performance, they sometimes represented the spectators. Other times they acted as a translator of the thoughts and feelings of the actors..
Furthermore, the choir could act as a central figure in the tragedy. Tragic authors sometimes used the chorus to create a psychological and emotional background for the action through their odes..
He could also play other roles such as introducing new characters to the play, reprimanding misguided characters, and sympathizing with the victims. In the same way, their performance could explain to the audience the events as they occurred, cover the passage of time and separate the episodes in the cases of extensive works..
In the early Greek theater, the costumes consisted of long, loose tunics and very high leggings (a kind of sandals). They complemented the outfit with masks, wigs, and makeup. They also stained their faces with wine-based paints.
Over time, the actors began to wear costumes adorned with long sleeves. They finished off the wardrobe with a striking belt that is worn above the waist to increase the illusion of stature..
On the other hand, the colors used also had a symbolism. Green represented mourning and red represented attorneys. Generally, slate white with purple represented royalty.
Also, travelers were represented in the play by hats. The excessive use of ornaments such as tunics, girdles and heavy jewelry was a custom..
In tragedies, the hero distinguished himself from the rest of the actors with gloves, body pads, and high-heeled boots to add height and meaning to his figure..
In Greek theater, masks served two purposes. First, his exaggerated expressions amplified the emotions that the character portrayed.
Second, inside the masks a device was added that acted like a small megaphone that amplified the actor's words..
On the other hand, these were made of cork or wood, painted with linen or leather. These covered the entire head of the actor The mask of the hero was finished off at the top by a kind of dome called onkos. As only three actors could appear on stage at a time, the use of multiple masks made duplication of roles possible..
Aeschylus was a Greek tragic playwright predecessor of Sophocles and Euripides. Ancient art historians consider him to be the first great exponent of Greek tragedy.
Of its production, stand out The Persians (472 BC), The seven against Thebes (467 BC), The eumenides (458 BC) and The supplicants (463 BC).
Sophocles was a renowned Greek tragic poet. He was also one of the most prominent figures in Greek tragedy, alongside Euripides and Aeschylus. Of all his literary production, only 7 complete tragedies are preserved today, apart from some fragments..
These works, of capital importance for the genre, are: King Oedipus, Oedipus in Colonus, Antigone, Ajax, The Traquinias, Electra Y Philoctetes. The first, Oedipus Rex, marks the peak of the formal achievement of the classical Greek drama.
The Athenian Euripides is considered the last of the great tragic playwrights of the Greek theater. 92 works of his authorship are known, of which 19 are plays. He was the winner of the Dionisio Festival 4 times.
Its production includes: Alcestis (438 BC), Medea (431 BC), The Heraclids (430 BC), Hippolytus (428 BC), Andromache (425 BC) and Hecuba (424 BC). Likewise, they are noteworthy. Supplicants (423 BC), Electra (420 BC), Heracles (416 BC), The Trojans (415 BC), Helena (412 BC) and Orestes (408 BC), among others.
Aristophanes is considered the greatest representative of ancient Greek comedy. He is also recognized as the author whose original works were preserved in greater quantity until present times..
Now, the work of Aristophanes was characterized by the fact that the chorus, the mime and the burlesque played a considerable role. In it, his daring fantasy, ruthless inventiveness and outrageous satire stood out. His humor was blatantly licentious, characterized by a marked freedom from political criticism..
Among the works that survived, we can mention The Aharnians (425 BC), The Knights (424 BC), Clouds (423 BC), The bees (422 BC), Birds (414 BC) and The Frogs (405 BC).
Menander was a Hellenistic Greek playwright. He was the best known representative of the new Athenian comedy and one of the favorite writers of antiquity. Noted for its immense popularity in its time and for many centuries after.
He is considered the successor of Aristophanes. Unfortunately, very little of his work survived the ravages of time. Among his well-known work are: The wayward (winner of an award in the Dionysians in 315 BC), The shield, The shorn, Arbitration, The woman from Samos Y The Zionians.
Cratino was an Athenian poet belonging to the ancient comedy. He was the first to use comedy as a weapon to censor the vices of his time. In his endeavor, he displayed a greater severity than Aristophanes. 21 theatrical pieces are attributed to him, of which only a few fragments remain today.
The careers of Cratino and Aristophanes overlap in about five years. Their rivalry for festival victories is believed to have been an ongoing component. Some of his works are: Herds of cows, Delos women, The essays, The Children of Euneus, Thracian women Y The gods of wealth.
Yet No Comments