Introduction to Ancient

Greek Theater
The Art of Sacred Space
Topics
● how theater uses myth
● types of dramas
● architecture and set up of ancient theaters

Vocab
● tragedy
● satyr-drama
● orchestra
● skene
● theatron
Ancient Greek Myths
● stories that explains something about life,
nature, or the world in general
● no concept of myth, just objective history
● touch on broad themes of life
● purposes:
○ religious
○ “secular”

Detail of the reconstruction of the west

pediment sculptures of the Parthenon,
originals by Pheidias, 438–432 BCE,
marble, Athens, Greece
 Ancient Greek
Dramas
● 6th c. BCE: originated
● Athens: drama hub
● Use myth as basis
● Cast of people:
○ Main characters
○ Chorus
○ (actors all men)
● Made up of acts and
scenes

Monument to Lysikrates the playwright, 335–334 BCE, marble, total

h. 34 ft., w. of base 9.5 ft, Athens
3 Types of Ancient Greek
Plays

1. Tragedy: sad drama which focuses on

human suffering in myths
2. Comedy: funny play that focuses on
blunders of the main character
3. Satyr-drama: play that has a chorus of
satyrs and focuses on myths with a
touch of humor
Bowl (krater) depicting a satyr-drama, by the Taporley Painter, early
4th c. BCE, glazed ceramic, Nicholson Museum, Sydney, Australia
Theater mask, attributed to Silanion, bronze, mid 4th
c. BCE, from Piraeus (the port of Athens), in the
Piraeus Archaeological Museum, Greece

Bowl (krater) depicting a satyr-drama, by the Taporley Painter, early

4th c. BCE, glazed ceramic, Nicholson Museum, Sydney, Australia
 Plays and Religion
● Explore ethics, community
standards, human psyche
● Materialize relationships
between humans and gods
● Performed at religious
festivals
Theater of Epidauros, by Polykleitos the Younger, 340–300
BCE, width of theatron ca. 390 ft, width of orchestra ca. 81 ft,
Epidauros, Greece
Theater of Epidauros, by Polykleitos the Younger, 340–300
BCE, width of theatron ca. 390 ft, width of orchestra ca. 81 ft,
Epidauros, Greece
 orchestra
circular stage of a theater

Theater of Epidauros, by Polykleitos the Younger, 340–300

BCE, width of theatron ca. 390 ft, width of orchestra ca. 81 ft,
Epidauros, Greece
 orchestra
circular stage of a theater

theatron
semi-circular, stadium-style
seating of a theater

Theater of Epidauros, by Polykleitos the Younger, 340–300

BCE, width of theatron ca. 390 ft, width of orchestra ca. 81 ft,
Epidauros, Greece
Pause this video and watch the other one
on the page. Then, come back here.
 skene
building behind the orchestra that acted as storage, areas for actors to
prepare, and a place to hang backdrops for scenes

Reconstruction of the Theater of Epidauros