Research | Theater In Ancient G

Rituals and Performance as Folklore

In chapter 4 of the textbook, Living Folklore an Introduction to the Study of People and their Traditions, the author discusses rituals and how they can be a form of folklore. Rituals allow a folklore group's inner experiences to be visible to outside groups. Participating in the ritual can make one a full fledged member of the group or allow one who is not a part of the group to witness or recognize the principles of the ritual. Rituals are performances that are repeated and patterned and frequently include ceremonial symbols and actions. The time frame of the ritual is also a very notable aspect. The festival of Dionysus is a perfect example of an ancient theatrical ritual that is even still practiced to this day. Moving forward in the textbook, chapter 5 discusses how performance can be a form of folklore. Many performances have a clear setting and recognizable structure to indicate to the audience or listeners that a performance is taking place. The theatrical plays put on during the festivals and in the theaters in ancient Greece are a good example of performance folklore.

Ancient Greek Theater

Ancient Greek theater flourished between 550 BC and 220 BC. Nearly every Greek and Roman city of note had an open-air theater, the seats arranged in tiers with a view of the whole stage so that everyone could see. Many famous playwrights including Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes had their plays viewed in these huge open air theaters. The Greek theater consisted essentially of the orchestra, the flat dancing floor of the chorus, and the Theatron, the actual structure of the theater building. At this time all of the actors were men and they would wear large masks that would exaggerate facial features and emotions. The plays performed were either tragedy, a comedy or a satyr play. Actors that performed in a comedy would wear bright colors while those in a tragedy would wear darker colors. Plays were usually either spoken or sung in rhyme.

The Festival of Dionysus as a Form of Theatrical Folklore

The festival of Dionysus, held in Ancient Greece in the biggest cities, was held four times a year to honor Dionysus, the goddess of wine. The biggest festival, City Dionysia, was held in spring. People worshiped this God and considered Dionysus a liberator, because during the festivals, women, slaves, and prisoners would experience freedom. Beginning in the 5th century, as many as 16,000 Athenian citizens would gather to view some of the newest theater performances. The plays performed changed year to year however there was always a huge procession or Pompe that would move the statue of Dionysus from outside the city to the Acropolis. Many people sing during this procession and enjoy wine. On the second day, there would be another procession followed by three tragic works and a Satyr play. The festival lasts for three days total, most of all three days spent in the theater and drinking. This was one of the first ways theater became a form of folklore.