Dionysus__Influential_Through_Time

Dionysus: Influential Through Time THEATRE OF DIONYSUS: GREEK INFLUENCE THROUGH TIME Twenty-five hundred years ago, Western theatre was born in Athens, Greece. Between 600 and 200 BC, the ancient Athenians created a theatre culture that has influenced theatre through history. They created plays that are still considered among the greatest works of world drama. Their achievement is truly remarkable. Greek theatre took place in large hillside ampitheatres. The players included a chorus and their leader, and the lines were more chanted than spoken. The chorus performed in the orchestra, not on a raised stage. The use of masks represented characters and high-soled boots worn added height to the players. Thespis is where it all began. Little is known of this man. It is uncertain whether Thespis was a playwright, an actor or a priest, yet it is his name with which the dramatic arts are associated in our word "Thespian". Thespis performed his plays on wagons and seats were set up for performances in the market place of Athens. The original word for 'actor' was hypokrites, meaning 'answerer,' for the actor answered the chorus. Thespis is said to have introduced and been the first actor, later called protagonistes (first competitor). The introduction comedy, bc, chorus, theatre, plays, tragedy, dionysus, actors, one, greek, tda, masks, skene, made, first, characters, actor, three, society, people, part, greece, called, athens, wore, wall, tragedies, through, set, religious, performed, orchestra, old, new, drama, greek, two, ordinary, often, modern, known, feet, earliest, each, cult, century, centuries, building