Dramatic festivals:
Lenaea-
· Held in late January- outside of sailing season
· Festival where comedies were shown
· Did not want sailors to see satirical interpretations of Athenian politics and society
· Presented synopsis of one play
· 5 playwrights selected
Rural Dionysia-
· Held mid-winter
· Local festival that celebrated the rural communities of Attica
· Plays performed were most likely revivals of those preformed at the other festivals
City Dionysia-
· In March- peak sailing season
· Allowed them to show off their city and its festival to visitors
· During festival public business ceased- prisoners were released
· Ran for five days- theatrical contests, processions, sacrifice, choral competitions
· Organised by one of Athens leading political figures- Eponymous archon
Eponymous Archon-
· Playwriters presented a synopsis of 4 plays- 3 tragedies and a satyr-play
· Selected 3 playwriters
· Archon selected a choregos for each playwright- drawn from the wealthy
· Required to fund various public services- liturgies
· Swerving as a choregos was one such liturgy – provided costumes, staging etc
· Being associated with a winning playwright gave them prestige
Structure of festival-
, · Few days before it began the proagon was held in Odeion- covered concert hall
· The plays were announced and each playwright delivered synopsis
· Evening before festival- wooden statue of Dionysus brought into city from a shrine
outside city
· Torchlight procession re-enacted Dionysus’ arrival in Athens
· Statue escorted to theatre where sacrifice is made
· Morning of day one the pompe took place- started outside the city and made wat to
Agora, then Temple of Dionysus
· There were dithyrambic competitions- dithyramb and each tribe entered choruses for
this event
· That evening a Komos was held in the streets by men of the city
The play days-
· Day two- the 5 comic playwrights presented their play
· Following three days- tragic plays were presented
· Lots were drawn to determine the order in which the plays were shown
· Grand opening ceremony in the theatre- sacrificed piglet on alter in acting area and libations
· 3 aspects of civil nature of City Dionysia- suggest that the plays were a way of reflecting Athenian
Polis- parade of tribute, proclamation of honours, parade of orphans
· Poorest citizens paid entry through theoric fund – normal entry was 2 obols
· Front rows reserved for important officials
· Not sure whether women attended
· Rod bearers to keep people awake
· Judging- one selected from each tribe, 5 of ten tablets drawn to find winner
· The review- few days after, if good Archon was awarded, bad they were fined
Worshipping Dionysus-
· God of theatre
· Act of stepping out of ones self- like acting
· Often appears in drama- such as Frogs and Bacchae
Lenaea-
· Held in late January- outside of sailing season
· Festival where comedies were shown
· Did not want sailors to see satirical interpretations of Athenian politics and society
· Presented synopsis of one play
· 5 playwrights selected
Rural Dionysia-
· Held mid-winter
· Local festival that celebrated the rural communities of Attica
· Plays performed were most likely revivals of those preformed at the other festivals
City Dionysia-
· In March- peak sailing season
· Allowed them to show off their city and its festival to visitors
· During festival public business ceased- prisoners were released
· Ran for five days- theatrical contests, processions, sacrifice, choral competitions
· Organised by one of Athens leading political figures- Eponymous archon
Eponymous Archon-
· Playwriters presented a synopsis of 4 plays- 3 tragedies and a satyr-play
· Selected 3 playwriters
· Archon selected a choregos for each playwright- drawn from the wealthy
· Required to fund various public services- liturgies
· Swerving as a choregos was one such liturgy – provided costumes, staging etc
· Being associated with a winning playwright gave them prestige
Structure of festival-
, · Few days before it began the proagon was held in Odeion- covered concert hall
· The plays were announced and each playwright delivered synopsis
· Evening before festival- wooden statue of Dionysus brought into city from a shrine
outside city
· Torchlight procession re-enacted Dionysus’ arrival in Athens
· Statue escorted to theatre where sacrifice is made
· Morning of day one the pompe took place- started outside the city and made wat to
Agora, then Temple of Dionysus
· There were dithyrambic competitions- dithyramb and each tribe entered choruses for
this event
· That evening a Komos was held in the streets by men of the city
The play days-
· Day two- the 5 comic playwrights presented their play
· Following three days- tragic plays were presented
· Lots were drawn to determine the order in which the plays were shown
· Grand opening ceremony in the theatre- sacrificed piglet on alter in acting area and libations
· 3 aspects of civil nature of City Dionysia- suggest that the plays were a way of reflecting Athenian
Polis- parade of tribute, proclamation of honours, parade of orphans
· Poorest citizens paid entry through theoric fund – normal entry was 2 obols
· Front rows reserved for important officials
· Not sure whether women attended
· Rod bearers to keep people awake
· Judging- one selected from each tribe, 5 of ten tablets drawn to find winner
· The review- few days after, if good Archon was awarded, bad they were fined
Worshipping Dionysus-
· God of theatre
· Act of stepping out of ones self- like acting
· Often appears in drama- such as Frogs and Bacchae
