Greek Theatre: Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripedes Part I: Introduction

Summary

In 5th century BC Athens, the Greek Classical Age flourished with art, philosophy, and democracy. This era produced monumental theatre works, influencing modern drama. The City Dionysia festival featured annual drama competitions, where playwrights Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides competed. Their plays, characterized by complex narratives and emotional depth, are still studied today for their impact on literature and theatre.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ Athens in the 5th century BC was a cultural peak, known for its art, philosophy, theater, and democracy.
• 🎭 The Greek Classical Age began after democracy was established in Athens around 510 BC and ended with Alexander the Great's conquests.
• 🎉 The City Dionysia was a yearly summer festival of drama that originated as a religious event honoring Dionysus.
• 🎭 Greek theater evolved from hymns and dances to complex narratives with actors wearing masks.
• 🏆 The festival included a competition among playwrights, with judges declaring winners and a Best Actor Award.
• 🎭 Tragedy trilogies were complemented by satyr plays, which provided comic relief.
• 🎭 The term 'protagonist' and 'antagonist' originally referred to actors in these competitions.
• 🏛️ Theater was democratically important, with free attendance for poor citizens as part of their civic education.
• 🎭 Old comedy emerged, allowing for the public ridicule of politicians and philosophers.
• 🎭 Three great tragedians of Athens were Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, whose works heavily influenced later theater.
• 📜 Of the many plays written by these tragedians, only 32 complete works have survived to the present day.
• 🎭 Each tragedian had a distinct style and contributed significant innovations to the art of drama.

Q & A

What was the Greek Classical Age?

The Greek Classical Age was a period of great cultural and artistic achievement in Athens, spanning from the establishment of democracy in 510 BC to the conquest of Greece by Alexander the Great, which ended Athenian democracy.

What was the City Dionysia and why was it significant?

The City Dionysia was an annual summer festival of drama in ancient Athens, honoring Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility. It was significant as it evolved from religious hymns and dances to a competitive festival of theatre, attracting spectators from all over Greece.

How did the City Dionysia festival originate?

The City Dionysia originated as a religious event involving hymns and dances to honor Dionysus. Over time, these hymns became more complex, incorporating stories from Greek mythology and eventually leading to the development of theatre.

What was unique about the performances at the City Dionysia?

The performances at the City Dionysia were unique because they involved a competition among playwrights, each presenting a trilogy of tragedies and a satyr play. The plays were performed by actors wearing masks and speaking verse set to music.

Why were masks used in ancient Greek theatre?

Masks were used in ancient Greek theatre to hide the actors' real faces and allow them to take on new identities. They also served to amplify the voice and convey emotions to the audience in large outdoor amphitheatres.

What was the role of the 'agonist' in ancient Greek theatre?

In ancient Greek theatre, the term 'agonist' referred to the main competitor in the dramatic contest, not the character. It was derived from the same word used for competitors in the Olympic Games.

How did the City Dionysia festival contribute to Athenian democracy?

The City Dionysia festival contributed to Athenian democracy by providing a platform for political satire and criticism through comedy, reminding politicians and statesmen of their vulnerability to public ridicule and emphasizing their equality.

Who were the three great tragic playwrights of ancient Athens?

The three great tragic playwrights of ancient Athens were Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. Their works are the only Greek tragedies that have survived to the present day.

What innovations did Aeschylus introduce to Greek theatre?

Aeschylus introduced the second actor to Greek theatre and created the only surviving trilogy, the Oresteia. His style was grand and reminiscent of Greek epics.

What was Sophocles' contribution to Greek theatre?

Sophocles introduced the third actor to Greek theatre, which allowed for more complex character development and storytelling. He is known for his well-developed characters and intricate plots.

How did Euripides differ from Aeschylus and Sophocles?

Euripides was known for portraying mythical heroes as ordinary, flawed individuals and challenging traditional assumptions. His works were initially unpopular but later became cornerstones of Greek education.

Outlines

00:00

🎭 Greek Classical Age and Theater

The script discusses the Greek Classical Age, a period of unparalleled cultural and artistic achievement in Athens during the 5th century BC. It highlights the flourishing of art, philosophy, theater, and democracy, which was unprecedented at the time. The Greek Classical Age began after the establishment of democracy in Athens in 510 BC and the Greek victory over the Persians in 480 BC, and ended with Alexander's conquest of Greece. This era saw the creation of some of the greatest theatrical works that continue to influence modern theater and cinema. The script introduces a series of videos that will provide an overview of Greek theater, starting with the importance and origin of the City Dionysia festival, the basics of Greek theater, and then focusing on the three tragic playwrights known as Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.

Keywords

💡Athens

Athens was an ancient Greek city-state and the center of classical Greek culture, philosophy, and democracy. In the video, Athens is highlighted as the birthplace of Greek theater during the 5th century BC, a period known as the Greek Classical Age. It was the epicenter of arts, philosophy, and democratic governance, setting the stage for the development of theater as a significant cultural expression.

💡Greek Classical Age

The Greek Classical Age refers to a period in ancient Greek history, roughly between 480 and 323 BC, characterized by significant cultural and artistic achievements. The video emphasizes this era as the golden age of Greek theater, with Athens producing some of the most influential theatrical works that continue to impact modern theater and cinema.

💡City Dionysia

The City Dionysia was an annual festival held in Athens in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility. The festival is central to the video's narrative as it became a platform for theatrical performances and competitions. It evolved from religious hymns and dances to complex dramas, eventually incorporating tragedy and comedy, and was a major cultural event that attracted spectators from all over Greece.

💡Dionysus

Dionysus was the Greek god of wine, fertility, and theater. His worship is intrinsically linked to the origin of the City Dionysia festival, as mentioned in the script. The festival began as a religious celebration in his honor, which later incorporated theatrical performances, reflecting the deep connection between religious rites and the development of Greek theater.

💡Tragedy

Tragedy, in the context of the video, refers to a genre of drama that originated in ancient Greece and is characterized by serious, somber themes, often involving the downfall of the main characters. The video discusses how tragedians like Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides wrote and directed tragedies that were performed at the City Dionysia, with each playwright competing to create the most compelling narrative.

💡Aeschylus

Aeschylus was an ancient Greek playwright and is considered one of the three great tragedians of classical Athens. The video mentions him as the oldest of the three tragedians, known for introducing the second actor to Greek theater and for his grand, epic-style plays such as the 'Oresteia', which is the only surviving trilogy from ancient Greece.

💡Sophocles

Sophocles was another of the three great tragedians and is known for his well-developed characters and intricate plots. The video points out that he introduced the third actor to Greek theater, which allowed for more complex storytelling. His works, such as 'Oedipus Rex', are still studied and performed today for their psychological depth and dramatic tension.

💡Euripides

Euripides was the last of the three great tragedians and is noted for his innovative approach to character development and storytelling. The video describes him as portraying mythical heroes as flawed, ordinary people, which was a departure from traditional portrayals. Despite being unpopular in his time, his works, such as 'Medea' and 'The Bacchae', later became cornerstones of Greek education.

💡Satyr Play

A Satyr Play was a type of comic drama that provided a contrast to the serious tone of tragedies. As mentioned in the video, it was performed after a trilogy of tragedies at the City Dionysia, offering comic relief to the audience. These plays often featured a chorus of satyrs, mythological creatures with human and animal features, and were known for their bawdy humor and physical comedy.

💡Protagonist and Antagonist

In the context of the video, 'protagonist' and 'antagonist' originally referred to the first and opposing competitors in the theatrical contests at the City Dionysia. Over time, these terms have come to represent the main character and their opponent in a story, respectively. The video explains that these terms originated from the competitive nature of Greek theater, where actors were also competitors.

💡Democracy

Democracy in ancient Athens is highlighted in the video as a key factor in the development and importance of theater. It was a time when citizens had the right to participate in the political process, and theater was seen as an extension of this democratic spirit. The video notes that during the later democratic period, poor citizens could attend the City Dionysia for free as part of their civic education, emphasizing the integral role of theater in Athenian democracy.

Highlights

Athens in the 5th century BC was a period of great cultural achievements in art, philosophy, theater, and democracy.

The Greek Classical Age began after the establishment of democracy in Athens in 510 BC and the Greek victory over the Persians in 480 BC.

The Greek Classical Age ended when Alexander the Great conquered most of Greece and put an end to Athenian democracy.

Athens produced some of the greatest works of theater during this period, which still influence modern theater and cinema.

The city Dionysia was a yearly summer festival of drama held in Athens.

The festival originated as a religious event to honor Dionysus, the god of wine, fertility, and later theater.

The festival evolved to include complex hymns and performances of Greek myths with actors wearing masks.

People from all over Greece would travel to witness the festival, similar to a modern film festival.

The festival included a competition among three playwrights to write and direct three tragedies each.

Each trilogy was completed with a short satyr play, a tragic comedy that provided comic relief for the audience.

A Best Actor Award was given, as the actors were also competitors in the contest.

The terms 'protagonist' and 'antagonist' originally referred to actors in the competition, not the characters.

The term 'agonist' was also used for competitors in the Olympic Games.

Later, the festival added a comedy category, performed in the morning, while tragedies were performed in the evening.

Tragedies depicted ancient myths of heroes, kings, and warriors, performed outdoors in amphitheaters with a large chorus.

Ancient theater differed from modern theater in that actors spoke verse set to music and wore masks.

All actors were men, reflecting the theater's origin as a religious male-only festival.

The production was funded by the state, and material prizes were awarded to the winners and best actors.

During the later democratic period, poor citizens could attend the theater for free as part of their education.

Theater was seen as an important part of Athenian democracy, with old comedy often satirizing politicians and statesmen.

Athens had three great tragic playwrights: Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.

All the Greek tragedies that have survived to the present were written by these three playwrights.

Of the hundreds of plays they wrote, only 32 survive in their complete form.

These surviving works have greatly influenced Roman, Medieval, Renaissance, and modern theater.

Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides had distinct styles and made important innovations in the medium of drama.

Aeschylus introduced the second actor to theater and his style was grand, like Greek epics.

Sophocles introduced the third actor and was known for his developed characters.

Euripides was known for portraying mythical heroes as ordinary flawed people and challenging original assumptions.

The three tragedians' surviving works will be discussed in detail in the following lectures.

Transcripts

[Music]

Athens in the 5th century BC a heyday of

art philosophy theater and democracy the

like of which had never been seen before

or since this was the Greek Classical

Age which began sometime after the

establishment of democracy in Athens and

510 BC and the Greek victory over the

Persians in 480 and ended when Alexander

conquered most of Greece and put an end

to Athenian democracy during this

century Athens produced some of the

greatest works of theatre of all time

and its influence can still be seen in

modern theatre and cinema in this series

of videos I'll give you an overview of

Greek theater during the Classical Age

first the importance and origin of the

city Dionysia as well as the basics of

Greek theater and then three videos on

the extra tragic playwrights Aeschylus

Sophocles and Euripides referred to as

the three tragedians in the fifth

century BC Athens held a yearly summer

festival of drama the dyneisha known

specifically as the city Dionysia

it originated as a religious hymn and

dance to give honor to Dionysus the god

of wine fertility and later theater but

over time the hymns became more complex

singing stories of Greek myth and an

actor performed a character from the

narrative and wore a mask people would

travel from all over Greece to witness

it something like a modern film festival

but it was also a competition like the

modern Oscars three playwrights would

compete against each other to write and

direct three tragedies each showing one

written trilogy and at the end of the

festival the judges would declare who

came first second and third each trilogy

would be complete of a short satyr play

a tragic comedy which provided comic

relief for the audience there was also a

Best Actor Award since the actors who

are also competitors in the contest this

is why still today we call the main

characters in a film or book the

protagonist and the antagonist meaning

the first competitor and the opposing

competitor originally referring to the

actor not the character an agonist was

the same word used for competitors in

the Olympic Games the use of

protagonists is basically meaningless in

the context of a book where there are no

actors but is still used because of the

massive influence of the Greeks on

literature later on the dynasty I added

a comedy category and this was performed

in the morning while the tragedies were

performed in the evening and I had the

same three playwrights with three plays

Rule

plays usually depicted ancient myths of

heroes kings and warriors of the Trojan

War they're performed outdoors and

amphitheaters where a large chorus of

men would sing and individual actors

would play the roles the main difference

between ancient theatre and modern

theatre is that the actors all spoken

verse set to music and all wore masks to

hide their real faces and take on a new

identity they were also all men

reflecting the theaters origin as a

religious male only Festival the

production was paid for by the states

and material prizes were awarded to the

winners and the best actors these plays

were a massive spectacle were thousands

of people filling the seats to watch the

depictions of murder manipulation and

tragic sorrow during the later

democratic period poor citizens could

attend for free as part of their

education it was seen to be part of

their right as Athenian citizens the

democratic importance of theatre

continued as the advent of old comedy by

comics with Lampoon politicians and

Athenian statesmen reminding those in

power that they were nob of being

ridiculed and were still equals even

philosophers like Socrates and the great

tragedians could not escape being

brought down to earth by their

countrymen in these comedies Athens had

three great tragic playwrights Aeschylus

Sophocles and Euripides of all the

hundreds of playwrights known from their

time period all the Greek tragedies that

survived to the present were written by

these three men alone and of the

hundreds of plays they collectively

wrote only 32 survive in their complete

form these surviving 32 works greatly

influenced Roman Medieval Renaissance

and modern theater three tragedians were

almost contemporaries the age difference

can be summed up by an anecdote of the

Greek victory over the Persians the

Battle of Salamis Aeschylus fought in

the battle as a man Sophocles took part

in the victory possession as a boy and

Euripides was born on the fairy day of

the battle

each of the three at his own style and

made important innovations in the medium

of drama Aeschylus was the oldest of the

three making his directorial debut at

the beginning of the fifth century BC in

499 his seven excellent plays include

the only surviving trilogy the or

Astaire he introduced the second act to

the theater and his style is grand like

the Greek epics Sophocles came second

debuting at four six eight and was a

contemporary of Aeschylus for a few

years he wrote King Oedipus and

introduced the third actor he is known

for his developed characters you rep

ADIZ was the last of the three debuting

in 455 PC a year after East vs death he

was unpopular in his time but became in

the Hellenistic age a cornerstone of

Greek education people trade mythical

heroes as ordinary flawed people and

challenged original assumptions of the

time he has the most surviving works

including Medea and the baqia

in the following three lecture videos

I'll give an overview of the three

tragedians their style and what makes

them different as well as a summary of

their surviving works my hope is that

after watching these three lectures

you'll be familiar for three playwrights

and I'll be able to recognize their

plays so click here to watch greek

theatre part 2 Aeschylus