Plays of Aeschylus: The Development Of Greek Drama

Monarch Notes, 20050229 by Aeschylus

Aeschylus Monarch Notes 01-01-1963 The Development Of Greek Drama The beginnings of drama, in virtually all places and times, have been closely bound up with religion and ritual. This was particularly true of Greek drama, which almost literally developed out of ritual into art. Songs and dances in honor of Dionysus, god of wine and vegetation and symbol of creative power, were performed quite early in Greece, as a part of an annual religious ceremony in honor of the god.

There were five major aspects to the ceremony: prayer, procession, phallic symbol, dithyramb, and sacrifice. The Procession: The entire ceremony centered on the offering of the sacrifice. Originally a human being was the victim, but later a goat (tragos) was substituted. The...

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