Ancient Greek Theatre Architecture
We all look for our beginnings. Whether we look for them in our personal life or in our professional life, we still look for them. As I was looking around the theatre recently, I was looking at and wondering where the idea of the theatre came from. Rather, who built it and why it is built the way it is. Who made the first one? Where do the roots of the theatre lay? All very good questions that I hope will be answered. In the beginning of time, man did not understand the complex workings of the universe. To compensate for this not understanding, man created mythical gods that held the power to cause nature to be nature. People who performed extraordinary accomplishments, like win wars, would be elevated to a god. Prehistoric man would perform rituals to please the gods. The gods, in turn having been pleased, would ensure the success of the land and hunting as well as protect them from their enemies. These rituals were performed in many places. At times, these rituals would involve the entire community. At other times, small groups would perform for the rest of the community. From that time until the present, every type of performance has created its own environmental conditions
The tragic poets of Athens took advantage of the traditional celebrations handed down to them to construct stories that confronted fundamental problems of human life. Three great poets worked this remarkable transformation of the ancient wine songs: Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. (Brockett 2ed 12-15) The late 400 BCE introduced the ekkuklema, or tableau machine which was a platform or couch set on wheels. Since scenes of violence were not shown on stage war, rape, and murder for example, took place off stage. In the off stage area, there would be a tremendous amount of commotion. This was done to represent the calamity or tragedy that was taking place. At the same time, the chorus would be reacting about it in an attempt to excite the audience. A messenger or servant would report on such calamities. Following the announcement of, perhaps a murder, the ekkuklema with the dead body would be rolled in. Even without the violence being shown, patrons of the theatre would still have shuddered and gasped at the sight. (Rawl 14) Bangham Jerry, Greece-Turkey 1999, 8/15/99, 10/19/1999,
Some common words found in the essay are:
Dionysian Cult, Euripides' Bacchae, Aeschylus Sophocles, Agamemnon Aegisthus, Greece Thracians, Theatre Architecture, BCE Athens, Ancient Greek, Dionysus Foundation, Thespis Thespis, brockett 4ed, century bce, leader chorus, painted scenery, messenger servant, fifth century bce, fifth century, oscar history theatre, circular space, enter paradoi, patrons theatre, visual actuality, edition boston allyn, brockett oscar history, regarded public acts,
Approximate Word count = 2769
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)
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