Greek Theater

1. Greek Theater

2. Built in the 4th Century B.C., the Theater at Delphi sits just above the Temple of Apollo. Built using the natural surrounding resource of Parnassus Limestone. Built to accommodate 5,000 spectators in 35 rows. Courtesy of Archivision.com

3. The front of the stage would have been decorated with a frieze of the Labors of Herakles. The inscriptions on the frieze refer to the rebuilding of the theater by Eumenes II in 160/159 B.C. Eleven of the twelve slabs are preserved and are located in the Archeological Museum in Delphi.

4. The theater was not only used to showcase dramatic performances but also to hold poetry readings and musical events during the yearly festivals. Festivals promoted competitions in music, singing, dance, and poetry and the winners were named Thespis. Courtesy of Archivision.com

5. Plays are composed of: • Theme • Symbolism • Allegory

6. Origins of Greek Drama • Ancient hymns or dithyrambs were adapted for choral processions in honor of the god Dionysus. • Mythical or Historical stories were the basis upon which plays were written. • Comedy and Tragedy later became the most popular genres. • The first comedies were satirical and mocked men in power for their vanity and foolishness. • Tragedies were based upon love, loss, pride, and the relationship between gods and man.

7. Masks were generally used by the actors. Masks were made to have exaggerated facial expressions as well as different lengths and colors of hair. Only men were allowed to perform and these made it possible to portray women characters as well. Masks served to help the audience identify the sex, age, and social rank of the characters.