GREEK THEATER

Dithyrambic Chorus

625 BCE

Arion of Corinth, a performer of Greece, invented the dithyrambic chorus. A dithyrambic chorus is a choral hymn sung by men to honor Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility. A tyrant of Sicyon named Cleisthenes presented the idea of choruses to Dionysus. During this time, contests were held by the Greeks to honor their gods. These contests inspired playwrighting.

Tragedy

530 BCE

Tragedy plays became popular in Greece, leading Pisistratus to establish a theater. It resembled the shape of a bowl so that everyone could see what was going on.

Satiric Drama

500 BCE

Pratinus of Philius introduced satiric drama to the festival. Satyrs were fictional characters that were half human and half goat.

Aeschylus' Oresteia

485 BCE

“The Oresteia” trilogy by the ancient Greek playwright Aeschylus consists of the three linked plays “Agamemnon”, “The Libation Bearers” and “The Eumenides”. The trilogy as a whole, originally performed at the annual Dionysia festival in Athens in 458 BCE, where it won first prize, is considered to be Aeschylus’ last authenticated, and also his greatest, work.

Euripides

485 BCE

Euripides, another tragedy playwright, was born. He wrote ‘Medea’, ‘Helen’, and ‘Orestes’.

Sophocles defeats Aeschylus

484 BCE

Aeschylus won a prize for his tragedies. A while after, Sophocles defeats Aeschylus in a dramatic competition

Aeschylus' Suppliant Women

463 BCE

The Suppliants also called The Suppliant Maidens, or The Suppliant Women, is a play by Aeschylus. It was probably first performed sometime after 470 BC as the first play in a tetralogy, sometimes referred to as the Danaid Tetralogy.

Aeschylus dies

456 BCE

Aeschylus, the great playwriter known as the Father of Greek Tragedy, died in a most unexpected way. He was said to have been killed by a tortoise which was dropped by an eagle that had mistaken his head for a rock suitable for shattering the shell of the reptile

Aristophanes' Birth

450 BCE

Aristophanes was born in Athens between 450 and 445 B.C.E. into a wealthy family. He had an excellent education and was well versed in literature, especially the poetry of Homer (eighth century B.C.E. ) and other great Athenian writers. His writings also suggest a strong knowledge of the latest philosophical theories.

Ajax

445 BCE

Sophocles' Ajax “Ajax” is a tragedy by the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles. Although the exact date of its first performance is unknown, most scholars date it to relatively early in Sophocles' career (possibly the earliest Sophoclean play still in existence), somewhere between 450 BCE to 430 BCE

Sophocles' Antigone

441 BCE

Antigone is a tragedy by Sophocles written in or before 441 BC.
It is the third of the three Theban plays but was the first written, chronologically. The play expands on the Theban legend that predated it and picks up where Aeschylus' Seven Against Thebes ends

Euripides' Alcestis

438 BCE

Alcestis is an Athenian tragedy by the ancient Greek playwright Euripides. It was first produced at the City Dionysia festival in 438 BCE. Euripides presented it as the final part of a tetralogy of unconnected plays in the competition of tragedies