Terms List for The Bacchae
Terms
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- parodos
- the first ode the chorus sings as it enters the orchestra
- Pisistratus
- tyrant who founded the tragic festival during the sixth century B.C.E.
- ekkyklêma
- a cart inside the skênê which could be suddenly rolled out to display the result of an event inside (like the murder of Agamemnon
- agon
- in general, "competition", specifically, the debate in a drama (premis of the play)
- choryphaeus
- chorus leader, steps forward to speak with protagonists
- sasimon
- any choral ode sung subsequent to the parodos
- Acropolis
- "the high city" most famous part of Athens
- agora
- the equivalent of the town square, a marketplace, first performances of drama here
- skênê
- building or tent at back of acting area, often painted for scenery
- Chorus
- group of 12-15 men who sing and dance during the plays.
- stichomythia
- line-by-line debates, characteristic of Greek drama
- Polis
- the ancient greek word for "city-state" the primary political organization
- Chorêgoi
- wealthy citizens who were "asked" to fund performances
- Thespis
- the semi-legendary founder of tragedy during the sisth century B.C.E.
- proagon
- a ceremony before the tragic festival, the playwright and actors would stand in costume before an assembly in the Odeion and announce the subjects of the his plays
- Cleisthenes
- founder of Greek democracy 2500 years ago
- oikos
- the family unit, including its physical property
- eisoidoi
- "entrances" to performance space, the opposite of an eisodos is an exodos
- orchestra
- the dancing area, chorus occupies this space
- dithyramb
- choral hymns to Dionysus, tragedy grew partly from this type of poetry
- mêchanê
- a crane used to lift actors above the acting area, usually actos are playing gods here, hence the phrase deus ex machina