Ancient theater: Interesting facts. Interesting facts about the ancient theater

In the Greek theater there was a special position - rabdukh, whose duties included hitting the spine of particularly raging spectators with a stick.

In one of the theaters of Ionia there was a special row for one-armed warriors. A row of bald slaves was seated in front of them, and by hitting their bald heads, the first could applaud.

For a long time, in ancient Roman comedy it was forbidden to show Roman citizens in a funny way. That is why Roman comedy depicted Greeks and Greek life. And so it turned out that the Greeks and Romans showed touching unanimity: the Greeks laughed at themselves, the Romans also laughed at the Greeks.

The great Greek playwright Aeschylus died when a turtle fell from the sky onto his bald head. The playwright's bald head was mistaken for a rock by an eagle flying across the sky, which released a turtle to break its shell and feast on its meat.

When, in the battle of the Athenians and Samians, part of the army marched under the leadership of the playwright Sophocles (this honor was given to him as a reward for his outstanding services to the city), he had to fight with troops led by the Eleatic philosopher Melissus. The playwright triumphed over the philosopher.

The ancient Greek playwright Phrynichus once presented his play “The Taking of Miletus” in the theater - about the destruction of the Greek city by the Persians. She upset the audience so much that the whole theater burst into tears; As punishment, the authorities sentenced the poet to a fine of one thousand drachmas and banned the production of his play.

In the Greek theater there were only three actors, each of whom could play several roles. Sometimes, as a curiosity, a fourth actor appeared - a parachoregema, who became a “burden of the choregas” (as his name is translated), since the choregas (that is, the sponsor, who was a wealthy citizen of the city), who was in charge of the production, had the additional responsibility of paying for the extra performer .

In Sophocles' Antigone, Antigone and Creon are sung at different points in the play. How can we explain this, since we know that in the ancient theater only the main actor, called the protagonist, usually sang? It’s just that in this case, the Greek theater entrusted the protagonist with the performance of the corresponding parts of both roles: first he played the entire role of Antigone - until her death, and then - at the end of the play - he changed clothes into Creon, who had previously been played by another actor.

In classical times of Athens, watching a theatrical production of tragedy was mandatory for all Athenian residents except slaves. Therefore, the whole city gathered at the performance. The poor were paid compensation for money unearned during this time. When the people in charge of the productions began to charge admission fees, the government of Athens also began to pay this money to the citizens. But decent women were not allowed to attend comedy productions, except that hetaeras could be in the theater for a performance of comic works.

All roles in Greek theater were played by men. Female actresses appeared later; they were all girls of easy virtue and performed only in mimes (rather obscene scenes of everyday life) and pantomimes.

Greek playwrights, presenting their tragedies on stage, competed with each other. The winning playwright received an ivy wreath as a reward. The winning choregas (sponsor of the production) could erect a monument to himself, which was never made from life and on which both the name of the choregas and the name of the playwright were indicated.

Before the performance of tragedies on the orchestra (a round stage like the arena of a modern circus, where performances were given in Greece), piglets were slaughtered and the blood of the spectators was sprinkled on them.

Actors in Greece performed in masks, which could be changed only once - as a result of a peripeteia (for example, when King Oedipus in Sophocles turned from sighted to blind).

Philip of Macedon was killed in a local theater.

Already in the 3rd century BC. e. playwright-comedian Philemon hired clackers against his rival Menander.

For his jokes against the politician Cleon, playwright-comedian Aristophanes was beaten by the latter's servants right in the theater.

In the Roman theater, a curtain appears that does not rise upward and does not diverge to the sides, as it does now, but falls into a special slot in the floor.

The Roman playwright Livius Andronicus himself played the main roles in his tragedies. When one day he lost his voice, he began to entrust the singing of all the songs to a special boy standing behind him, and he himself only opened his mouth. This is the first recorded use of a phonogram in history.

In Rome, the so-called mimetic hypotheses were popular - extended tragicomic performances, which were written by the famous author Philistion. The most popular plot was the adventures of the robber Lavreol, who was crucified on the cross at the end of the performance. At the right moment, the actor was replaced with someone sentenced to death and a real execution was carried out in front of the audience.

The Roman pantomime featured hetaeras wearing transparent tunics, which they took off as they went along. Emperor Justinian married one of these dancers, Theodora.

For a long time, in ancient Roman comedy it was forbidden to show Roman citizens in a funny way. That is why Roman comedy depicted Greeks and Greek life. And so it turned out that the Greeks and Romans showed touching unanimity: the Greeks laughed at themselves, the Romans also laughed at the Greeks.

In the Roman theater, a curtain appears that does not rise upward and does not diverge to the sides, as it does now, but falls into a special slot in the floor.

In the Greek theater there was a special position - rabdukh, whose duties included hitting the spine of particularly raging spectators with a stick.

In one of the theaters of Ionia there was a special row for one-armed warriors. A row of bald slaves was seated in front of them, and by hitting their bald heads, the first could applaud.

The great Greek playwright Aeschylus died when a turtle fell from the sky onto his bald head. The playwright's bald head was mistaken for a rock by an eagle flying across the sky, which released a turtle to break its shell and feast on its meat.

When, in the battle of the Athenians and Samians, part of the army marched under the leadership of the playwright Sophocles (this honor was given to him as a reward for his outstanding services to the city), he had to fight with troops led by the Eleatic philosopher Melissus. The playwright triumphed over the philosopher.

The ancient Greek playwright Phrynichus once presented his play “The Taking of Miletus” in the theater - about the destruction of the Greek city by the Persians. She upset the audience so much that the whole theater burst into tears; As punishment, the authorities sentenced the poet to a fine of one thousand drachmas and banned the production of his play.

In the Greek theater there were only three actors, each of whom could play several roles. Sometimes, as a curiosity, a fourth actor appeared - parachoregema (Parahoregamo), who became the “burden of the chorega” (as his name is translated), since the chorega (that is, the sponsor, who was a wealthy citizen of the city), who was in charge of the production, had the additional responsibility of payment of an extra performer.

In Sophocles' Antigone, Antigone and Creon are sung at different points in the play. How can we explain this, since we know that in the ancient theater only the main actor, called the protagonist, usually sang? It’s just that in this case, the Greek theater entrusted the protagonist with the performance of the corresponding parts of both roles: first he played the entire role of Antigone - right up to her death, and then - at the end of the play - he changed clothes into Creon, who had previously been played by another actor.

In classical times of Athens, watching a theatrical production of tragedy was mandatory for all Athenian residents except slaves. Therefore, the whole city gathered at the performance. The poor were paid compensation for money unearned during this time. When the people in charge of the productions began to charge admission fees, the government of Athens also began to pay this money to the citizens. But decent women were not allowed to attend comedy productions, except that hetaeras could be in the theater for a performance of comic works.

All roles in Greek theater were played by men. Female actresses appeared later; they were all girls of easy virtue and performed only in mimes (rather obscene scenes of everyday life) and pantomimes.

Greek playwrights, presenting their tragedies on stage, competed with each other. The winning playwright received an ivy wreath as a reward. The winning choregas (sponsor of the production) could erect a monument to himself, which was never made from life and on which both the name of the choregas and the name of the playwright were indicated.

Before the performance of tragedies on the orchestra (a round stage like the arena of a modern circus, where performances were given in Greece), piglets were slaughtered and the blood of the spectators was sprinkled on them.

Actors in Greece performed in masks, which could be changed only once - as a result of a twist (for example, when King Oedipus in Sophocles turned from sighted to blind).

Philip of Macedon (father of Alexander the Great) was killed in a local theater.

Already in the 3rd century BC. e. playwright-comedian Philemon hired clackers against his rival Menander.

For his jokes against the politician Cleon, playwright-comedian Aristophanes was beaten by the latter's servants right in the theater.

The Roman playwright Livius Andronicus himself played the main roles in his tragedies. When one day he lost his voice, he began to entrust the singing of all the songs to a special boy standing behind him, and he himself only opened his mouth. This is the first recorded use of a phonogram in history.

The Roman pantomime featured hetaeras wearing transparent tunics, which they took off as they went along. Emperor Justinian married one of these dancers, Theodora.

In Rome, the so-called mimetic hypotheses were popular - extended tragicomic performances, which were written by the famous author Philistion. The most popular plot was the adventures of the robber Lavreol, who was crucified on the cross at the end of the performance. At the right moment, the actor was replaced with someone sentenced to death and a real execution was carried out in front of the audience.

25/11/2010

1. In the Greek theater there was a special position - rabdukh, whose duties included hitting the spine of particularly raging spectators with a stick.

2 . In one of the theaters of Ionia there was a special row for one-armed warriors. A row of bald slaves was seated in front of them, and by hitting their bald heads, the first could applaud.

3. For a long time, in ancient Roman comedy it was forbidden to show Roman citizens in a funny way. That is why Roman comedy depicted Greeks and Greek life. And so it turned out that the Greeks and Romans showed touching unanimity: the Greeks laughed at themselves, the Romans also laughed at the Greeks.

4. The great Greek playwright Aeschylus died when a turtle fell from the sky onto his bald head. The playwright's bald head was mistaken for a rock by an eagle flying across the sky, which released a turtle to break its shell and feast on its meat.

5. When in the battle of the Athenians and Samians part of the army marched under the leadership of the playwright Sophocles (this honor was given to him as a reward for his outstanding services to the city), he had to fight with troops led by the Eleatic philosopher Melissus. The playwright triumphed over the philosopher.

6. The ancient Greek playwright Phrynichus once presented his play “The Taking of Miletus” in the theater - about the destruction of the Greek city by the Persians. She upset the audience so much that the whole theater burst into tears; As punishment, the authorities sentenced the poet to a fine of one thousand drachmas and banned the production of his play.

7. In the Greek theater there were only three actors, each of whom could play several roles. Sometimes, as a curiosity, a fourth actor appeared - a parachoregema, who became a “burden of the choregas” (as his name is translated), since the choregas (that is, the sponsor, who was a wealthy citizen of the city), who was in charge of the production, had the additional responsibility of paying for the extra performer .

8. In Sophocles' Antigone, the plays Antigone and Creon are sung at different points in the play. How can we explain this, since we know that in the ancient theater only the main actor, called the protagonist, usually sang? It’s just that in this case, the Greek theater entrusted the protagonist with the performance of the corresponding parts of both roles: first he played the entire role of Antigone - right up to her death, and then - at the end of the play - he changed clothes into Creon, who had previously been played by another actor.

9. In classical times of Athens, watching a theatrical production of a tragedy was mandatory for all residents of Athens, except slaves. Therefore, the whole city gathered at the performance. The poor were paid compensation for money unearned during this time. When the people in charge of the productions began to charge admission fees, the government of Athens also began to pay this money to the citizens. But decent women were not allowed to attend comedy productions, except that hetaeras could be in the theater for a performance of comic works.

10. All roles in the Greek theater were played by men. Female actresses appeared later; they were all girls of easy virtue and performed only in mimes (rather obscene scenes of everyday life) and pantomimes.

11. Greek playwrights, presenting their tragedies on stage, competed with each other. The winning playwright received an ivy wreath as a reward. The winning choregas (sponsor of the production) could erect a monument to himself, which was never made from life and on which both the name of the choregas and the name of the playwright were indicated.

12. Before the performance of tragedies on the orchestra (a round stage like the arena of a modern circus, where performances were given in Greece), piglets were slaughtered and the blood of the spectators was sprinkled on them.

13. Actors in Greece performed in masks, which could be changed only once - as a result of a peripeteia (for example, when King Oedipus in Sophocles turned from sighted to blind).

14. Philip of Macedon was killed in a local theater.

15. Already in the 3rd century BC. e. playwright-comedian Philemon hired clackers against his rival Menander.

16. For his jokes against the politician Cleon, playwright-comedian Aristophanes was beaten by the latter’s servants right in the theater.

17. In the Roman theater, a curtain appears that does not rise upward and does not diverge to the sides, as it does now, but falls into a special slot in the floor.

18. The Roman playwright Livius Andronicus himself played the main roles in his tragedies. When one day he lost his voice, he began to entrust the singing of all the songs to a special boy standing behind him, and he himself only opened his mouth. This is the first recorded use of a phonogram in history.

19. In Rome, the so-called mimetic hypotheses were popular - extended tragicomic performances, which were written by the famous author Philistion. The most popular plot was the adventures of the robber Lavreol, who was crucified on the cross at the end of the performance. At the right moment, the actor was replaced with someone sentenced to death and a real execution was carried out in front of the audience.

20. In the Roman pantomime, hetaeras took part in transparent tunics, which they threw off along the way. Emperor Justinian married one of these dancers, Theodora. .

1. In the Greek theater there was a special position - rabdukh, whose duties included hitting the spine of particularly raging spectators with a stick.
2. In one of the theaters of Ionia there was a special row for one-armed warriors. A row of bald slaves was seated in front of them, and by hitting their bald heads, the first could applaud.
3. For a long time, in ancient Roman comedy it was forbidden to show Roman citizens in a funny way. That is why Roman comedy depicted Greeks and Greek life. And so it turned out that the Greeks and Romans showed touching unanimity: the Greeks laughed at themselves, the Romans also laughed at the Greeks.
4. The great Greek playwright Aeschylus died when a turtle fell from the sky onto his bald head. The playwright's bald head was mistaken for a rock by an eagle flying across the sky, which released a turtle to break its shell and feast on its meat.
5. When in the battle of the Athenians and Samians part of the army marched under the leadership of the playwright Sophocles (this honor was given to him as a reward for his outstanding services to the city), he had to fight with troops led by the Eleatic philosopher Melissus. The playwright triumphed over the philosopher.
6. The ancient Greek playwright Phrynichus once presented his play “The Taking of Miletus” in the theater - about the destruction of the Greek city by the Persians. She upset the audience so much that the whole theater burst into tears; As punishment, the authorities sentenced the poet to a fine of one thousand drachmas and banned the production of his play.
7. In the Greek theater there were only three actors, each of whom could play several roles. Sometimes, as a curiosity, a fourth actor appeared - a parachoregema, who became a “burden of the choregas” (as his name is translated), since the choregas (that is, the sponsor, who was a wealthy citizen of the city), who was in charge of the production, had the additional responsibility of paying for the extra performer .
8. In Sophocles' Antigone, the plays Antigone and Creon are sung at different points in the play. How can we explain this, since we know that in the ancient theater only the main actor, called the protagonist, usually sang? It’s just that in this case, the Greek theater entrusted the protagonist with the performance of the corresponding parts of both roles: first he played the entire role of Antigone - until her death, and then - at the end of the play - he changed clothes into Creon, who had previously been played by another actor.
9. In classical times of Athens, watching a theatrical production of a tragedy was mandatory for all residents of Athens, except slaves. Therefore, the whole city gathered at the performance. The poor were paid compensation for money unearned during this time. When the people in charge of the productions began to charge admission fees, the government of Athens also began to pay this money to the citizens. But decent women were not allowed to attend comedy productions, except that hetaeras could be in the theater for a performance of comic works.
10. All roles in the Greek theater were played by men. Female actresses appeared later; they were all girls of easy virtue and performed only in mimes (rather obscene scenes of everyday life) and pantomimes.
11. Greek playwrights, presenting their tragedies on stage, competed with each other. The winning playwright received an ivy wreath as a reward. The winning choregas (sponsor of the production) could erect a monument to himself, which was never made from life and on which both the name of the choregas and the name of the playwright were indicated.
12. Before the performance of tragedies on the orchestra (a round stage like the arena of a modern circus, where performances were given in Greece), piglets were slaughtered and the blood of the spectators was sprinkled on them.
13. Actors in Greece performed in masks, which could be changed only once - as a result of a peripeteia (for example, when King Oedipus in Sophocles turned from sighted to blind).
14. Philip of Macedon was killed in a local theater.
15. Already in the 3rd century BC. e. playwright-comedian Philemon hired clackers against his rival Menander.
16. For his jokes against the politician Cleon, playwright-comedian Aristophanes was beaten by the latter’s servants right in the theater.
17. In the Roman theater, a curtain appears that does not rise upward and does not diverge to the sides, as it does now, but falls into a special slot in the floor.
18. The Roman playwright Livius Andronicus himself played the main roles in his tragedies. When one day he lost his voice, he began to entrust the singing of all the songs to a special boy standing behind him, and he himself only opened his mouth. This is the first recorded use of a phonogram in history.
19. In Rome, the so-called mimetic hypotheses were popular - extended tragicomic performances, which were written by the famous author Philistion. The most popular plot was the adventures of the robber Lavreol, who was crucified on the cross at the end of the performance. At the right moment, the actor was replaced with someone sentenced to death and a real execution was carried out in front of the audience.
20. In the Roman pantomime, hetaeras took part in transparent tunics, which they threw off along the way. Emperor Justinian married one of these dancers, Theodora.