Greek Theatrons Flashcards
Greek Theatre (MST) (33 cards)
What does the Greek word Theatron translate to?
a place for watching
How many sections was the the Theatron divided into? Describe these.
13 sections
10 dedicated to one of each Athenian Tribe
3 dedicated to non-Athenians
Who sat at the front row of the Theatron and why?
Priest of Dionysus - to remind everyone it was a religious event
Who sat in the Prohedria and why?
Officials and Dignitaries - they were important figures
What was the arrangement of the rest of the spectators?
Men sat towards the middle, while women, children and slaves sat at the back on wooden benches
What is the Orchestra?
The circular dancing place for the Chorus
What is the Chorus?
A group of (12-15 in tragedy, and 24 in comedy) men singing and dancing in response to what the character is doing. They sometimes acted as mediators between the actors and audience.
What is the Skene?
A structure that served as an architectural background, and sometimes a changing room.
What was the Wheel Platform?
A wooden platform on wheels brought on stage which showed a scene that had happened off stage
What was the Crane used for?
This was positioned behind/above the skene and used to hoist characters into the air above the roof
Around how many people attended the plays?
Around 17000
Where was the Theatre of Dionysus located?
South-Eastern side of the Acropolis
Give a practical reason for the location of the Theatre of Dionysus
Viewers were protected from cold winds
Around what time was the Theatre of Dionysus built?
In c.650-600 BC
Give a symbolic reason for the location of the Theatre of Dionysus?
It was located between the sanctuary of Dionysus and the Acropolis
What 3 festivals took place in honour of the Theatre of Dionysus?
City Dionysia
The Lenaea
Rural Dionysia
What is a Demes?
A village or district of Attica
Describe The Lenaea
A festival held in late January, only for Athenians, as it was too early for travellers. Drama competitions were held, but it focused on comedies.
Describe Rural Dionysia
A festival held mid-winter, it was the local version of City Dionysia, held in the towns and villages of Attica (Demes).
Describe City Dionysia
A festival held in honour of Dionysus in late March, to celebrate the coming of spring and new trade.
What was the role of the Eponymous Archon?
A leading politician of Athens who was responsible for running City Dionysia. The Athenian civil year was named after him.
What was the role of the Choregos?
The financial banker attached to a playwright to support the production of his plays.
What is a Polis?
A city-state in ancient Greece.
What is a Liturgy?
A tax on the wealthy requiring them to contribute to the functioning of Athens
