Publisher's Synopsis
This
Blackwell Guide provides a broad–ranging introduction to ancient Greek drama, which flourished principally in Athens from the sixth to the third century bc. All three genres of Greek drama are discussed tragedy, comedy, and satyr play as well as the five surviving playwrights Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, and Menander, together with brief entries on lost playwrights.
The Guide also addresses contextual issues, such as: the origins of the dramatic art forms; the conventions of the festivals, the theater, and the performers; the relationship between drama and the worship of Dionysos; the political dimension; and how to read and watch Greek drama. The final section consists of 46 one–page synopses of each of the surviving plays.
