Indeed, large parts of the play were sung by a chorus, whose presence is still strong in Aeschylus, but whose importance diminished later in the 5 thCentury. It's worth noting that ancient playwrights also composed the music (for the chorus and the accompanying flute – or aulos- player), directed the choreography and sometimes even acted in their own plays.Īeschylus, in particular, has long been considered tough for modern audiences. In this regard, acting was more stylized and much of the action happened offstage. Ancient Greek actors were exclusively men, all of whom wore masks to indicate the characters they were playing. If the ancient stage differed greatly from the modern, so did the acting itself. Special effects were mostly restricted to the ekkyklēma, a rolling platform used to show bodies or bring out new props from the skēnē, and the mēkhanē, a crane that could lift players and move them through the air (whence the term 'deus ex machina'). There may not have been much scenery other than the skēnē, a structure set up behind the staging area that could represent any building featured in the play. In Athens, the Theater of Dionysus was built on the south slope of the Acropolis. Ancient Greek theater was staged in the open air, with the audience seated on something like wooden (later stone) bleachers, often on the slopes of a hill. Greek theater is quite different from the theater we now know, which – while incredibly diverse – generally takes place in highly controlled indoor settings.

(Wikimedia Commons)Īncient plays can pose a challenge to modern audiences. Bronze Mask of Dionysos Tauros, produced in 2nd century Rome.

The oresteia of aeschylus agamemnon