Visual Sources
Bird Chorus Chous (c. 480 BC)
- Object: Black-figure chous (wine jug)
- Artist: Attributed to the Gela Painter
- Date: c. 480 BC
- Significance:
o A vase showing that animal choruses accompanied by a musician were in evidence in the early 5 th
century.
o Not the only scene of an animal chorus in Greek Tragedy.
- Depicts:
o An auletes playing his aulos – motif used by painters to suggest a theatrical or choral scene.
o 2 bearded figures dressed as birds dancing to the tune.
o Purple crests on their heads and feathers attached to their knees, dappled skins with tails hanging
down, behind, and wings clearly visible on their arms.
- Therefore:
o Theatrical/Choral scene, use of music and dancing on stage.
o The vine branches in the background are suggestive of Dionysus.
o Vase dates to 5th century
Suggests animal chorus well known even in the 5th century.
Idea of a bird chorus predates Aristophanes’ Birds
Perseus Vase (c. 420 BC)
- Object: Attic Red-figure Vase Fragment
- Date: c. 420 BC
- Significance:
o The only Attic vase to show a stage (and steps)
o Only Ancient Greek painting to portray a theatre audience.
o Evidence of props – Masks, sickle, nude suit
Bird Chorus Chous (c. 480 BC)
- Object: Black-figure chous (wine jug)
- Artist: Attributed to the Gela Painter
- Date: c. 480 BC
- Significance:
o A vase showing that animal choruses accompanied by a musician were in evidence in the early 5 th
century.
o Not the only scene of an animal chorus in Greek Tragedy.
- Depicts:
o An auletes playing his aulos – motif used by painters to suggest a theatrical or choral scene.
o 2 bearded figures dressed as birds dancing to the tune.
o Purple crests on their heads and feathers attached to their knees, dappled skins with tails hanging
down, behind, and wings clearly visible on their arms.
- Therefore:
o Theatrical/Choral scene, use of music and dancing on stage.
o The vine branches in the background are suggestive of Dionysus.
o Vase dates to 5th century
Suggests animal chorus well known even in the 5th century.
Idea of a bird chorus predates Aristophanes’ Birds
Perseus Vase (c. 420 BC)
- Object: Attic Red-figure Vase Fragment
- Date: c. 420 BC
- Significance:
o The only Attic vase to show a stage (and steps)
o Only Ancient Greek painting to portray a theatre audience.
o Evidence of props – Masks, sickle, nude suit
