Greek Theater
Curated By: Grace
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The Origins of Greek Theater
The Origins of Greek Theater
Ancient Greek theater began around 6th century BCE with the performance of tragedies, which were plays with sad themes. Tragedies commonly ended in death. They would be performed at religious festivals, mostly dedicated to the god Dionysus. A well-known example of a tragedy is Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles (pictured right). Sophocles was arguably one of the greatest playwrights of his time.
Around the time tragedy was being developed, another genre of play would become popular among Greek playwrights and spectators of theater -- comedy. Comedy in ancient Greece was often used to poke fun at relevant political events or leaders.
Playwright Sophocles (image 1)
Masks used for ancient Greek theater performances (image 2)
Impact on Greece and Other Civilizations
Theater and the art of drama spread rapidly through Greece after its invention, becoming a staple of the ancient culture of the civilization. Author Katherine B. Free says in her journal article Greek Drama and the Kutiyattam that "it is extremely unlikely that any Greek polis would be without a theatre and dramatic performances."
The impact of Greek theater is not limited to just Greece, however. Alexander the Great's conquest of Asia Minor, India, and Central Asia likely spread drama through the civilizations there, particularly India. This could be shown in how similar Sanksrit and Greek theater are, specifically regarding the overlapping use of backdrops and intricate stage sets/costumes in both civilizations' theatrics.
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