Ancient Greek Theatre: 2022

The origin of the use of the Doric dialect in Greek tragedy is a matter of debate. Some scholars believe that it is a remnant of the original form of tragedy, which was developed in the Dorian Peloponnese. Others believe that it was a deliberate choice by the tragic poets, who wanted to create a more emotional and passionate style of drama.

There is some evidence to support both of these theories. The earliest surviving tragedies, such as those of Aeschylus, do use a number of Doric forms, especially in the choral passages. However, the use of Doric gradually declined over time, and by the time of Euripides, the Attic dialect was the norm.

One possible explanation for this is that the Attic dialect was becoming increasingly dominant in Athens, and the tragic poets wanted to appeal to a wider audience. Another possibility is that the Doric dialect was becoming associated with a more archaic and traditional style of drama, and the tragic poets wanted to create something that was more modern and innovative.

Ultimately, the reason why the Doric dialect was used in Greek tragedy is a mystery. However, it is clear that it played an important role in the development of this genre, and it continues to be a fascinating topic of study for scholars today.

Here are some additional points to consider:

The Doric dialect was spoken in many parts of Greece, including the Peloponnese, Crete, and Sicily. It was also the dialect of Sparta, which was a major cultural and political centre in ancient Greece.
The Doric dialect was known for its strong rhythms and its use of assonance and alliteration. These features may have appealed to the tragic poets, who wanted to create a sense of excitement and drama in their plays.
The Doric dialect was also associated with the worship of Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry. This may have been another reason why the tragic poets chose to use it, as Dionysus was also the patron god of tragedy.

Whatever the reason, the use of the Doric dialect in Greek tragedy is a distinctive feature of this genre. It helps to create a sense of time and place, and it also contributes to the emotional and passionate tone of the plays.

Friday, 22 July 2022

Ancient Sicily

https://www.lagoratao

rmina.com/en/shop/artisanal-reproductions/artisanal-maps/map-of-sicily-by-merian/

Maps of Sicily Art prints of Florence antique maps ancient print

History of Greek and Hellenistic Sicily - Wikipedia

Magna Graecia - Wikipedia

The Greek Cities of Magna Graecia and Sicily - Luca Cerchiai, Lorena Jannelli, Fausto Longo - Google Books

Archaic and Classical Greek Sicily: A Social and Economic History - Franco De Angelis - Google Books

The Western Greeks : classical civilization in the Western Mediterranean - Internet Archive

The Western Greeks : TJ. Dunbabin - Internet Archive

Greek Theater in Ancient Sicily - Kathryn G. Bosher - Google Books

The Fight for Greek Sicily: Society, Politics, and Landscape - Google Books

The Politics of Identity in Greek Sicily and Southern Italy - Mark R. Thatcher - Google Books

https://books.google.me/books?id=R7PP3wNr4zMC&printsec=frontcover

Greek Cities of Sicily: History, Archaeology, Architecture

Language and Linguistic Contact in Ancient Sicily - Google Books

Theater Outside Athens: Drama in Greek Sicily and South Italy - Google Books

Greeks in Sicily | Adolfo J. Dominguez-Monedero - Academia.edu

Friday, 29 April 2022

Ancient Greek Theatre of Laodicea, Phrygia in Turkey

Laodicea has two theatres, a Greek and a Roman ones.

Ancient Greek Amphitheater at Laodicea Restored to Former Glory

Laodicea on the Lycus - Turkish Archaeological News

Laodicea on the Lycus - Wikipedia

Ancient Theatre of Laodicea, Denizli-Turkey | 1st century, Places, World

Wikimapia - Laodicea

LAODIKEIA - Theatrum

Römisches Theater

Griechisches Theater

Friday, 4 February 2022

Death in Classical Greece

In Ancient Athens, Death held profound significance, shaped by religious beliefs, cultural practices, and societal values. The Athenians viewed Death not merely as the end of individual existence but as a transition to another realm, intricately tied to the gods, the community, and notions of immortality through memory and legacy.

Key Aspects of the Meaning of Death in Ancient Athens:

1. Religious and Mythological Frameworks

Afterlife Beliefs: The Athenians believed in an afterlife where the soul (psyche) journeyed to Hades, the underworld ruled by the god of the same name. This realm was depicted as a shadowy existence, though there were variations, including the Elysian Fields for the blessed and Tartarus for the wicked.
Rituals and Deities: Death rituals were overseen by deities such as Hades, Persephone, and Thanatos (the personification of death). Offerings were made to appease these gods and secure a favourable afterlife for the deceased.

2. Civic and Communal Importance

Funeral Rites: Proper burial and mourning rites were essential to honour the dead and maintain social order. These included washing the body, laying it out (prothesis), a procession (ekphora), and burial or cremation. Improper burials were seen as disrespectful to both the deceased and the gods.
Public Commemoration: The Athenians placed great value on commemorating the dead, especially those who died in service to the polis. Public funerals (epitaphios logos) celebrated fallen warriors, emphasising their contribution to the city-state and collective memory.

3. Philosophical Perspectives

Views on Mortality: Philosophers like Socrates and Plato explored the meaning of death deeply. Socrates famously viewed death as a potential release of the soul to a better existence or as an eternal, peaceful sleep. Plato elaborated on the immortality of the soul, describing its eternal journey beyond physical death.
Ethical Implications: Death prompted reflections on virtue and the good life. Living well and leaving a positive legacy were seen as ways to achieve a form of immortality through remembrance.

4. Cultural Practices

Grave Markers and Art: Tombstones (stelae) often depicted scenes of domestic life or farewells, emphasising the continuity of relationships and the integration of the dead into the living community’s memory.
Festivals and Remembrance: Festivals like the Anthesteria and the Genesia honoured the dead, fostering communal connections and ensuring the proper respect for ancestors.

5. Death and Heroism

Heroic Ideal: Death in battle was celebrated as the ultimate sacrifice for the city-state. This aligned with Homeric ideals of glory and honour, influencing Athenian views on military service and death.

In summary, death in Ancient Athens was both a personal and collective event, intertwined with religious duty, social cohesion, and philosophical inquiry. It was a moment of transition, a chance for the living to reaffirm their values, and a means to ensure the deceased's lasting presence in the memory of the community.

References

"Reading" Greek Death: To the End of the Classical Period: Christiane Sourvinou-Inwood - Internet Archive
"Reading" Greek Death - Google Books

Aspects of Death in Early Greek Art and Poetry - Google Books

Hades - Oxford Reference

Persephone/Kore - Oxford Reference

Cerberus - Oxford Reference

Plutus - Oxford Reference

Eleusis - Oxford Reference

Eleusis and the Eleusinian Mysteries - Google Books
Eleusis and the Eleusinian Mysteries : Mylonas, George E, - Internet Archive
Bronze Age Eleusis and the Origins of the Eleusinian Mysteries - Google Books
The Eleusinian Mysteries and Rites - Google Books

Eleusinia - Oxford Reference

Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece Afterlife Internet Archive
Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece Hades - Internet Archive
Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece Burial Practices - Internet Archive
Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece Death - Internet Archive
Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece Cult of the Dead - Internet Archive

Rituals of Death and Dying in Modern and Ancient Greece - Google Books

Psyche: The Cult of Souls and the Belief in Immortality among the Greeks - Google Books

Ancient Greek funeral and burial practices - Wikipedia

Funeral oration (ancient Greece) - Wikipedia

The Oxford Classical Dictionary 3rd Edition Revised - Internet Archive

Internet Archive Search: Oxford Classical Dictionary and other Oxford References

Thanatos - Wikipedia

The Athenian Funeral Orations - Google Books

Marriage to death: the conflation of wedding and funeral rituals in Greek tragedy: Rehm, Rush - Internet Archive

Hame, K. J. (2008). Female Control of Funeral Rites in Greek Tragedy: Klytaimestra, Medea, and Antigone. Classical Philology, 103(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1086/590091 https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/590091

Pierre Bonnechère, Le sacrifice humain en Grèce ancienne.
Le sacrifice humain en Grèce ancienne - Presses universitaires de Liège

Saturday, 29 January 2022

The Political System (Its Constitution and Democracy) of Classical Athens

Diagram representing the Constitution of the Athenians in the IVth century BC

The Greek phrase "περὶ τὸν δῆμον τὸν Ἀθηναίων" translates to "about the people of Athens." It is a reference to the Athenian democracy, which was a direct democracy in which all citizens had a voice in government. The phrase can also be used more broadly to refer to the city of Athens itself, or to its culture and values.
Athenian democracy was based on the principle of isonomia, or equality before the law. All citizens, regardless of their wealth or social status, had the right to vote, to hold office, and to participate in government. The Athenians also believed in the importance of free speech and debate. They held frequent public assemblies, where citizens could discuss issues of public policy.
Athenian democracy was a success for many years. It helped to make Athens a powerful and prosperous city-state. However, it also had its weaknesses. It could be unstable, and it was vulnerable to the influence of demagogues. The Athenian democracy eventually fell to Sparta in the Peloponnesian War in 404 BC.

Isonomia - Wikipedia

Democratic Law in Classical Athens - Google Books by Michael Gagarin

Democracy and the rule of law in classical Athens by E. Harris

Aristote : Constitution d'Athènes (bilingue) trans by B. Haussoullier

Reference Works on Classical Athenian Democracy

Encyclopedia of The Ancient Greek World - Internet Archive

Athenian democracy: John Thorley- Internet Archive
Athenian democracy: Arnold Hugh Martin Jones - Internet Archive

Athenian democracy a sourcebook: Luca Asmonti- Internet Archive
The classical Athenian democracy: David L. Stockton,- Internet Archive
Pericles: the rise and fall of Athenian democracy Hamish Aird - Internet Archive

Nomos and the beginnings of the Athenian democracy: Martin Ostwald - Internet Archive

Areopagus | Athens, Ancient Greece, Lawmaking | Britannica
Boule | Definition, Ancient Greece, & Meaning | Britannica

Taylor, C. (2001). Bribery in Athenian Politics Part I: Accusations, Allegations, and Slander. Greece & Rome, 48(1), 53–66. http://www.jstor.org/stable/826870

Taylor, C. (2001). Bribery in Athenian Politics Part II: Ancient Reaction and Perceptions. Greece & Rome, 48(2), 154–172. http://www.jstor.org/stable/826917

HASHIBA, Y. (2006). ATHENIAN BRIBERY RECONSIDERED: SOME LEGAL ASPECTS. The Cambridge Classical Journal, 52, 62–80. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44698294

References

DEMOCRACY Origins of democracy in ancient Greece.pdf

Politeia - Wi kipedia

Encyclopedia of the ancient Greek world Politeia - Internet Archive.

A Companion to Ancient Greek Government - Google Books

Athenian democracy - Wikipedia

Encyclopedia of the ancient Greek world Democracy - Internet Archive

Constitution of the Athenians (Aristotle) - Wikipedia

Reimagining Greek Tragedy on the American Stage: Chapter 3: Democratizing Greek Tragedy - Google Books

Encyclopedia of the ancient Greek world Constitution - Internet Archive

Constitution of the Athenians (Pseudo-Xenophon) - Wikipedia

Old Oligarch - Oxford Reference

The 'Old Oligarch': The Constitution of the Athenians Attributed to Xenophon - Google Books

The Republic b y Plato (Gutenberg edition) - Wikisource

Encyclopedia of the ancient Greek world Plato - Internet Archive

Pseudo-Xenophon (Old Oligarch), Constitution of the Athen e ians

The Athenian Constitution; The Eudemian Ethics; On virtues and vices: Aristotle - Internet Archive

Athenian Constitution - Wikisource

The Dialogues of Plato - Wikisource

Rhodes, P. J. (2003). Nothing to Do with Democracy: Athenian Drama and the Polis. The Journal of Hellenic Studies, 123, 104–119. https://doi.org/10.2307/3246262 https://www.jstor.org/stable/3246262

Polis

Polis - Wikipedia

Politeia

Politeia - Wikipedia

Ancient Greek Legal System

Ancient Greek Legal System

Fifth-century Athens

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth-century_Athens

Archon

Archon - Wikipedia

Eponymous archon - Wikipedia

Polemarch - Wikipedia

Archon basileus - Wikipedia

Encyclopedia of the ancient Greek world Archon - Internet Archive

archon | ancient Greek magistrate | Britannica

Pericles

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pericles

Encyclopedia of the ancient Greek world Pericles - Internet Archive

A commentary on Plutarch's Pericles : Stadter, Philip A - Internet Archive

Cimon

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cimon

Encyclopedia of the ancient Greek world Cimon - Internet Archive

Ephialtes

Ephialtes - Wikipedia

ZACCARINI, M. (2018). The Fate of the Lawgiver: The Invention of the Reforms of Ephialtes and the “Patrios Politeia.” Historia: Zeitschrift Für Alte Geschichte, 67(4), 495–512. http://www.jstor.org/stable/45019304

Encyclopedia of the ancient Greek world Ephialtes - Internet Archive

Alcibiades

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcibiades

Encyclopedia of the ancient Greek world Alcibiades - Internet Archive

Alcmaeonidae

Alcmaeonidae - Wikipedia
Hippias (tyrant)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippias_%28tyrant%29

Encyclopedia of the ancient Greek world Hippias - Internet Archive

Hipparchus (ruler of Athens)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hipparchus_%28ruler_of_Athens%29

Encyclopedia of the ancient Greek world Hipparchus - Internet Archive

Pisistratus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisistratus

Encyclopedia of the ancient Greek world Pisistratus - Internet Archive

Cleisthenes