GREEK

THEATER
BY ALOIS ANDALEON
 THEATER VS.
THEATRE
DIFFERENCES
GREEK THEATRE
BEGAN IN THE 6TH CENTURY BCE IN ATHENS
GREAT DIONYSIA OR CITY DIONYSIA (FESTIVAL)
CONSTRUCTED FOR THEIR GOD DIONYSUS
THREE DAYS OF CEREMONIES AND SACRIFICES
COMPETED WITH 3 TRAGEDIANS WRITERS & 3 COMICS
PERFORM ENORMOUS RITUALS & FESTIVALS FOR THE GODS
ACTORS WERE TRAINED AND CONTINUED THE FAMILIES LEGACY
DIONYSUS
GOD OF WINE,
WINEMAKING, GRAPE
CULTIVATION, FERTILITY,
RITUAL MADNESS,
THEATER, AND
RELIGIOUS ECSTASY
3 TYPES OF PLAYS IN GREEK THEATRE
COMEDY (ENTERTAINMENT)
TRAGEDY (BEAUTIFUL HUPOKRITAI OR ACTOR)
SATYR (MYTHICAL STORY)
4 CLASSICAL GREAT PLAYWRIGHT
ARISTOPHANES, AESCHYLUS, SOPHOCLES AND EURIPEDIS
THESPIS
• FIRST GREEK
ACTOR &
ORIGINATOR OF
TRAGEDY (GOAT
SONG)
ARISTOTLE
• HIS POEM CONTAINS
THE THEORY OF
GREEK THEATRE
• Contributes the
Dithyramb (a coral
hymn to Dionysus
each year)
USAGE OF
MASK
• PORTRAY OF GODS &
CHARACTERS
• CHANGE OF
CHARACTER OR
MOOD
GREEK THEATRE ARCHITECTURE PROFILE
THEATRE
• IS A LARGE, OPEN-AIR
STRUCTURES
CONSTRUCTED ON
THE SLOPES OF HILLS
ELEMENTS OF GREEK THEATRE
ORCHESTRA
• A large circular or
rectangular area at
the center part of the
theatre, where the
play, dance, religious
rites, acting used to
take place
SKENE
• A large rectangular
building situated
behind the orchestra,
used as a backstage.
Earlier the skene was
a tent or hut, later it
became a permanent
stone structure
AUDIENCE
• Rising from the circle
of the orchestra.
Large scale has a
capacity of 14,000 –
25,000 audience
KOILON/
THEATRON
• the approximately
semi-circular bank
of seating
Cunei
/Kerkis
• the wedge-
shaped sections
of seats
separated by
horizontal
walkways and
vertical steps
DIAZOMA
• the horizontal
walkways
between tiers of
seats
PARADOI/
PARADOS
• the monumental
passageways and
gateway entrance
on each side of
the auditorium
PARASKENIA/
PROSKENION
• the wings at the
end of each side
of the skene
stage building
PROEDRIA/
PROHEDRIA
• throne-like seats
in the front rows
for VIPs
EARLY THEATERS
Minoan civilization on crete at the site of phaistos
From tramped earth to wood
Rectangular arrangement of seating (thoricus & trachones
in attica) to circular arrangement
EVOLUTION OF GREEK THEATERS
6TH BCE
-Date of built
- South slope of the Acropolis in Athens
- Host the Great Dionysia every March/April of the year
EVOLUTION OF GREEK THEATERS
5TH BCE
-THEY ADDED RECTANGULAR STAGE W/ PARESKENIA
(WINGS)
- STONE FRONT SEATS & WOOD SEATS ON THE REST
- MONUMENTAL ENTRANCES OR THE PARADOS WERE BUILT
AT THE SIDE OF THE STAGES
EVOLUTION OF GREEK THEATERS
4TH BCE
- SEATS WERE MADE OF STONE (BENCHES) & WALKWAYS
- STONE RAMPS AT THE ENTRANCE
- STAGE SCENERY OR BACKDROPS BECAME STONE AND FACED WITH
SEMI COLUMNS
THEATRE OF ARGOS
Built 320 BC
81 rows of seats
capacity for 20,000 spectators
It is not the most luxurious theatre
Used tent on the space
It features the Bisellium (Seat for Honorary Leaders)
THEATRE OF EPHESUS
Built in 3rd Century BC
Capacity of 25,000 Seats
66 row of seats & divided by two diozoma
Lower Section is made of marble for the Emperor & VIPs
Stage building is 18 meters high
5 doors in the skene facing the orchestra and the middle is the
largest
THEATRE OF EPIDAURUS
Constructed at the end of 4th BCE
dedicated to the ancient Greek God of medicine, Asclepius or Hepius
most perfect ancient Greek theatre
it has a maximum capacity of 13,000 to 14,000 spectators
Due to this special design, the architects achieved both optimal acoustics and an
opening for better viewing
Has a circular stone plate for the altar, thymeli or thymele
It surrounded by a special underground drainage pipeline called Euripos
THEATRE OF PERGAMON
Built during 3rd century BC
It has space for 10,000 people
80 rows of seat, 36 meters height
The seating area (koilon) is divided horizontally by two walkways, called
diazomata
Lowest part has seven sections of stairways and six for the middle and upper
section
It has a terrace leading to the Temple of Dionysus
Built by Eumenes II (Architect)
THEATRE OF SEGESTA
Built in first half of the 3rd century BC
Can host 4000 people
View towards the Gulf of Castellammare
Cavea is divided into two parts of diazoma
First section has 21 rows divided into 7 small different sized kerkides or Cunei or
kerkis
Second section has backs and remains of Summa Cavea (Seats of less
distinguished audience)
THEATRE OF DELPHI
Built in the 4th century BC
Can accommodate 4,500 spectators
Has view of Temple of Apollo
The cavea or koilon is divided into two diazoma
Lower zone has 27 rows & the upper has 8
Remodeled in several occasions
Formed part of the programme of the Pythian Games