The Legacy Of Greek Theater

Greek theater evolved from festivals that honoured the Gods, and myths that the citizens were familiar with. Tragedy was adapted from folk hymns which were dedicated to the God of wine, Dionysus. These folk hymns were known as Dithyrambs and were performed in festivals to celebrate and respect the God (Gerber 13). Since theater was performed for the most sacred and honourable purposes it was treated with high esteem. Attending the theater was a civic duty and the people were paid to see performances (Zelenak 5). Athenians were proud of the theater and considered it to be prestigious as it was related to the Gods. Due to this acclaim, theater became a popular way to celebrate the Gods, and the government supported this artform by urging their people to attend performances. Audiences were usually familiar with the stories which were performed, but the playwright would have the ability to shape the story to convey a particular opinion or view (Sacks 2). The playwright had the power to impact people’s opinions and express their political concerns …show more content…
Similarly to Ancient Greece, in the modern world, ideas about politics are still reflected in theater today (Cambridge Play Committee, 5). The legacy of political theater continues to present itself in contemporary society to discuss important ideas that playwrights feel they ought to address to the public. Ideas of Ancient Greek drama was present throughout history, for example in the Byzantine Empire, satire of political ideas and figures were constantly presented (Beetz, 2). This popular interpretation of society and how it is indicated in theatrical ways, was evident by the clear similarities in the content performed in the Byzantine Empire, and Ancient Greece. The influence of Ancient Greek theater on modern performances is prevalent in the history of drama and how it is still performed to this