Essay Greek Theater - 1157 Words

Ancient Greek Theater is the first historical record of â€Å"drama,† which is the Greek term meaning â€Å"to do† or â€Å"to act.† Beginning in the 5th century BC, Greek Theater developed into an art that is still used today. During the golden age of the Athenians plays were created, plays that are considered among the greatest works of world drama. Today there are thousands of well-known plays and films based on the re-make of ancient drama. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Theater originated from the religious rites of ancient Greek tribes. Located in northern Greece, a cult was formed to worship the God of wine and fertility, Dionysus. The cult held religious celebrations which included large consumptions of alcohol, animal sacrifices, and sometimes†¦show more content†¦The government chose wealthy patrons who financed the plays and the competitors who performed in them. During this time period, providing for the productions meant tax exemption for the individual and his family that year. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Once plays started being written, the number of interested spectators increased. In order to satisfy the Greeks amphitheaters were constructed all over Greece. Three well-known theaters were the theater at Delphi, the Attic Theater and the theater of Dionysus built at the foot of the Acropolis in Athens. During their prime time, the plays attracted crowds of 30,000 and more. The stands were built around the orchestra and up hillsides; somewhat like a baseball stadium today. This made it possible to seat more than 17,000 spectators at a time. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The Dionysian Festivals lasted for several days along with the drama competitions. The performances were always done during the day and the drinking at night! Little or no makeup was worn by the actors, instead they wore masks with exaggerated facial expressions. Actors were always male and played more than one role, so the masks helped portray different characters, races, and sexes. Not much scenery was used and usually the majority of the play took place in the orchestra. When attention was shifted to the actors, however, the action was played on stage. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The plays were lit byShow MoreRelatedAncient Greek Vs. Medieval Theater1154 Words   |  5 Pagesexemplifying the values and beliefs of its culture and time. Ancient Greek theater reflects ancient Greek values and beliefs, such as the importance of the gods. Medieval theater portrays Medieval beliefs and values, like the values of community and religion. This can be said for post-modern works as well. Post-modern theater, although it seems fractured, reflects the culture, sub-culture, and time of its creation. Although post-modern theater does not share all unanimous ideals, like previous theatricalRead MoreAncient Greek Theater1235 Words   |  5 Pagesplaywright Sophocles, was one of the many groundbreaking works to come out of fifth century BC Greece. Works of ancient Greek theater, particularly Oedipus the King, embodied the spirit of innovation that fifth century BC Athens was known for. The fifth century BC in Athens, aptly known as the â€Å"Golden Age,† was a time of great achievements in art and philosophy. Sophocles and other notable Greek playwrights Euripides and Aeschylus flourished in this time period. After Greece’s victory in the Persian War inRead MoreThe Evolution Of Greek Theater1576 Words   |  7 PagesThe Evolution of Greek Theater Greek theater can be considered to be one of the building blocks for our theater today. The advancements that the Greeks possessed in the early fifth century were the start of western theater. The Greeks were heavily involved with religion and religious festivals, comedies, tragedies, climatic drama, and took the outdoor amphitheater and made many improvements to its structure. In Ancient Greece religion and theater went hand in hand. The Greeks developed religionRead More Ancient Greek Theater Architecture Essay2131 Words   |  9 PagesAncient Greek Theater Architecture Many aspects of ancient Greek theaters have long been studied and debated. Much of the information about these theaters is based on speculation due to the fact that so little of them still exist today. This lack of remnants especially applies to the architecture of the early Greek Theaters. However, through archeological finds and years of studying the people, the plays, and the architecture of the time, we are able to make many conclusions about these earlyRead MoreThe Impact Of Ancient Greek Theater And Tragedy1703 Words   |  7 PagesMichimasa Kamata HUM 101-007 3/17/16 The Impact of Ancient Greek Theater and Tragedy Ancient Greek culture has influenced our modern culture in many ways from philosophy to medicine to government. We still use many of their concepts, technology, and even alphabet system. Without ancient Greece, our modern world would not have advanced as far. A significant contribution of the ancient Greek culture to the world today is the Greek theater, more specifically the structure of tragedy. Some contributionsRead MoreGreek Theater: Tragedy Essay941 Words   |  4 PagesGreek theatre is based on religious and political performance with prestige playwrights. The roles are always played by men who wear masks and costumes and the performance were always outdoors. Greek theatre has had comedy and tragedy where comedies the heroes are ironic and disengaged to the situations. With the tragedy, heroes often respond with emotions such as pride, rage, lust, envy or grief. This essay will focus on the tragedy side of Greek theatre. Aristotle says that tragedy â€Å"is not theRead Mor eGreek Influence on the Modern Day Theater2816 Words   |  12 PagesBy: Christine Boldt The Greek invented the idea, or concept, of theater in the 6th century B.C. The first known formal theater was built in Athens between 550 and 534 B.C., although the oldest theater in the world is in the palace at Knossos in the northern Crete. The Ancient Greek’s way of theater and its many accomplishments greatly influenced the modern day theater and entertainment. Staring with the evolution of theater and how it evolved from religious groups in ancient Greece. There were alsoRead MoreEssay on Greek Theater in 5th Century BCE972 Words   |  4 Pages Greek Theatre in 5th Century BCE nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The Ancient Greeks, probably one of the most fascinating civilizations to study contributed several discoveries and technological advancements. One can not discuss the Greeks without discussing Greek Theatre though. Greek Theater paved the way for literature and art in later history in many ways. If it wasn’t for Greek Theatre famous play writers like Shakespeare would have never done what they are so very well known for. When studyingRead MoreGreek Theater And Its Impact On The City State Of Athens1756 Words   |  8 PagesWhen considering ancient Greek life, theater was massively important. This is apparent by the Theater of Dionysius’ placement in the city state of Athens, with its close proximity to the Acropolis and the Parthenon. The Acropolis by definition meant the high point of the city state, and was on a plateau. Its raised status highlights its importance, thus radiating that importance onto nearby structures as well. Although the Greeks valued rational and reason, they also valued their emotional sideRead MoreEssay on Ancient Greek Theater: the Forerunner to Modern Theatre1211 Words   |  5 Pagesto enjoy a play in a theater. Theatre and plays go back as far as â€Å"B.C.† times. Theater has been a means of art and entertainment for thousands of years dating back to the fifth century B.C. The beginning marked with the ancient Greek theaters. Over the vast years of cultural and technological evolution many things have changed. Just the same, many things have remained unscathed. In comparing and contrasting different aspects such as theater writing, technology, and theater costumes, we will become