Theatre

Question 1

when was the Lenea held

Answer 1

Late march

Question 2

What were prisoners given

Answer 2

a day off to watch the plays

Question 3

who was the Choregos

Answer 3

the financial backer of a set of plays

Question 4

what did the Choregos do

Answer 4

• Paid for everything to set up the play
• select, feed and sometimes house the chorus

Question 5

How long before the plays was the Proagon

Answer 5

A day or two

Question 6

what was said in the Proagon

Answer 6

Plays were announced and each play gave a synopsis

Question 7

what happened the night before the City Dionysia

Answer 7

a wooden statue of Dionysus was brought into the city from a shrine just outside the walls

Question 8

what happened on the morning of the first day of the City Dionysia

Answer 8

The grand procession or Pompē

Question 9

where did the Pompē start and finish

Answer 9

started outside the city and finished in the temple of Dionysus

Question 10

when did the dythramb take place

Answer 10

afternoon of the first day of the City Dionysia

Question 11

where did the Komos take place

Answer 11

in the streets

Question 12

what happened on the second day of the City Dionysia

Answer 12

comic playwrights presented 5 comic plays

Question 13

what would be performed on days 3,4&5 of the City Dionysia

Answer 13

3 tragedies and one satyr play

Question 14

what was the parade of tributes

Answer 14

all the tributes form nations in Athens empire would be due at this time of year. All the money was paraded for the audience to view

Question 15

what was the proclamation of honours

Answer 15

A herald announced names of those who had done outstanding service for the city and awarded them a crown

Question 16

what was the parade of orphans

Answer 16

the boys and girls who’s fathers had died fighting for Athens.

Question 17

what was given to the orphans of Athens out of respect

Answer 17

• state paid for their education
• when they turned 18 they would be given armour and declared independent citizens

Question 18

what was the entry cost to the theatre to watch

Answer 18

two obols (days wage for an unskilled worker)

Question 19

when was the Theoric fund set up

Answer 19

second half of the 5th century

Question 20

what was the Theoric fund

Answer 20

it paid for the poorest citizens to attend the theatre if they couldn’t afford to

Question 21

what was the Prohedria

Answer 21

the VIP front row of seating in the Theatron

Question 22

how was the seating of the Theatron organised

Answer 22

• Tribes sat together
• metics (foreigners) sat on the far side together

Question 23

who were the rod bearers and why were they needed

Answer 23

• Rod bearers were people who stood holding rods which they would hit people with for crowd control
• needed because crowds were rowdy and interacted with the action

Question 24

when did the judging take place

Answer 24

at the end of day 5

Question 25

what was the judging system

Answer 25

• judges were selected at random
• on day of judging each would write their order of best to worst on a tablet
• 5 of the 10 tablets would be drawn at random

Question 26

typical features of the theatre

Answer 26

• raised seats in a large semi circle
• a ‘sweet spot’ in the centre of the Orchestra
• carved into hills and mountains
• an orchestra

Question 27

capacity of Epidaurus

Answer 27

roughly 15,000

Question 28

where was the Theatre of Dionysus located

Answer 28

• south east side of the Acropolis
• just above religious sanctuary dedicated to Dionysus

Question 29

when was Epidaurus built

Answer 29

late 4th century

Question 30

what was the capacity of the Theatre of Dionysus

Answer 30

roughly 17,000

Question 31

who stood in the orchestra

Answer 31

the chorus

Question 32

what was the role of the chorus

Answer 32

to commentate on the main action of the play

Question 33

what shape(s) was an orchestra

Answer 33

typically semicircular but Thorikos is rectangular

Question 34

what is the Ekkyklema

Answer 34

the wheel platform

Question 35

what was the Ekkyklema used for

Answer 35

often representing a coffin

Question 36

that is the Mechane

Answer 36

the crane

Question 37

what was the typical use of the Mechane

Answer 37

• to lift actors in the air
• often depicting gods

Question 38

what example do we have of use of the Mechane

Answer 38

• Aristophanes play ‘peace’
• Hero is flying on a dung beetle
• addresses the crane flyer directly telling him to be careful or else he will give the beetle a meal

Question 39

what was the capacity of the theatre at Thorikos

Answer 39

3,000