Greek/Roman Theatre
What it is about
Basics of the Time Period
Theatres started out as simple, temporary wooden structures. The layout of the stage was the same as in later stone stages: three doors, opening to the brothel, temple, and hero's house. The stage itself was enclosed by wings at each side, and the scene house had a roof.
The Romans did not have a permanent (stone) theatre until the final years of the Republic; the latest reference to the Romans' building a new theater was in 17 BC. The large stone theatres seated tens of thousands of Romans. There was no front curtain nor were performances done in the orchestra pit (unlike Greek plays). The audiences sat on temporary wooden benches where there was room; ushers would direct the patrons all throughout the performance.
Large, open public space which served as a place for assembly for the citizens of a Greek city; the political, civic, religious and commercial center of a Greek city; buildings for all of these various purposes were constructed as needed in and around the agora.
Roman curtain; curtain could be lowered into the stage to reveal a scene: aulaea premuniuntur, "the curtain is lowered," when the play begins and aulaeum tollitur, "the curtain is raised," when the play is ended.
(Greek) A wheeled platform or cart used in Greek theatre; housed within the skene and used to reveal the result of an "out of view" action, e.g. the murder of Agamemnon
Tall boots with thick soles used by Greek actors to enhance their height. Corresponds to Latin sing. cothurnus; pl. cothurni.
Crane used in Greek theatre to represent flight; machine used to lift actors (usually portraying gods) above the acting area in Greek and Roman theatre; dates from the 5th century BC. Latin phrase "deus ex machina" (god from the machine) implied a convenient yet contrived plot device resolving an apparently insoluble difficulty.
Ajax, The Cow Murderer
Sophocles was born in 496, just outside of Athens, the son of an armor manufacturer. Due to his apparently incredible physic, he was chosen to be a lead singer in the paean, which is a ritual song that was sung to the gods in order to please them. The meager information about him suggests that he was rather popular, and participated regularly in civic activities, which is kind of weird, but whatever.
In 442, he served as a treasurer responsible for tribute money from Athens’ allies.
In 440, he was elected as one of ten… er… something…
In 413, at the age of 83, he was a proboulos.
In 406, he died.