Antigone

/æ ˈtɪɡə iː/
 What do We Discuss ?
• Greek Drama and
Theatre

• Biography of
Sophocles and his
Works
 Greek Drama
• Drama was developed by the ancient Greeks
during celebrations honoring Dionysus.

• Dionysus is the god of the vine, which

produces grapes for wine. Wine was
associated with resurrection and suffering.

• With the inclusion of many choral songs, the

early Greek plays resembled what we call
opera today.
 Festival of Dionysus
• The Festival of Dionysus took place in Athens over
the course of five days in March or April.
• During the first day, the Greeks held a procession
honoring Dionysus in which all citizens
participated.
• Duri g the festi al’s seco d day, the choral so gs
were performed.
• On the last three days of the festival, the actors
performed three tragedies, one satyr (satire –
mock heroic tragedies) play, and one comedy
 Festival of Dionysus
• The archon, a state official, selected three poets to
compete for the prizes in the tragedy division.

• The choregus, a wealthy, prominent citizen of Athens,

was required by law to pay for the cost of training and
costumes for the chorus.

• A jury of 10 citizens selected the winning poet

• The playwright served as a sort of teacher, offering

plays for the ethical and moral improvement of his
fellow citizens to insure the spiritual survival of the
community.
 Structure of Greek Theatre
• Theatron = area of seats for the audience
hollowed out from the hillside

• Orchestra = large area in front of the stage

where the chorus sang and danced

• Thymele = the altar centered in the

orchestra used for sacrifices to Dionysus

• Parados = walled walkway used by the

chorus to enter and exit the stage

• Pro-scenium = a long, low stage behind

the orchestra

• Skene = building that contained the actors’

dressing rooms
 The Actors
• The Greek a e for a actor as hypocrite.
• As there were only 3 actors, they wore masks to
play multiple parts.
• All actors were men, because it was considered
undignified for women to appear on stage
• Actors wore padded costumes, wigs, and high-
heeled boots to make them taller and give them
added dignity and power.
• Actors had to be able to speak in poetic language
and sing using a loud and clear voice.
 The Chorus
• The chorus was led by a conductor and
consisted of singers and dancers who moved
and sang together, acting as one character.
• A Choral Ode was chanted or sung in unison.
• Originally, they Chorus started out with 50
people, but Sophocles fixed the number at 15
• The playwright used the chorus and their songs to:
– Add the beauty of song and dance.
– Set the mood or express the main themes of the play
by commenting on the action.
– Create a bridge between the actors and the audience.
– Converse with and give advice to the actors.
– Tell about events that have already happened in the
past.
– Foretell the future by interpreting the actions of the
actors.
 Sophocles
• Sophocles was born in Colonus, Greece in 497 BCE
• He died in 406 BCE at approximately 90 years of
age.

• He Lived during the Golden Age ofl Greece

– (The Golden Age of Greece was from approximately
800 BCE to 300 BCE)

• He was a successful musician, athlete, and

respected playwright.

• He was also active in social and political life.

• He held several priesthoods, was imperial

treasurer in 443 BCE, and a general in 440 BCE
 Sophocles as a Playwright
• In the drama festivals of his day, Sophocles won
the first place prize for best play 24 times!

• He wrote more than a hundred plays but only

seven remain.

• The most famous of his plays are: Oedipus the

King, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone, and Electra.
 “ophocles’ I pact o Dra a
• Sophocles expanded the format of drama by
adding a third actor.
• He increased the amount of dialogue within a
play.
• He decreased the importance of the chorus by
fixing its number at 15.
• He invented painted scenery and added flute
music in the background of his plays.
• He made each play of a trilogy stand by itself as a
separate story.
 The plays

• Ajax
• Antigone
• Antigone
• Trachinian Women
• Oedipus the
• Oedipus the King
King
• Electra
• Oedipus at
• Philoctetes/ˌfɪləkˈtiːtiːz/,
Colonus
• Oedipus at Colonus
• Trackers