Test Your Knowledge of Ancient Greek Theatre Costumes and Masks

Greek theatre was a significant cultural and religious practice that emerged in Athens in 700 BC as part of a festival called the Dionysia. Tragedy, comedy, and the satyr play were the three genres that emerged in Greek theatre. The word tragedy comes from the Greek words tragos and ode, meaning goat and song, respectively, which indicates a link with the ancient Dionysian cults. The Greeks valued the spoken word, and oral storytelling flourished in Greece. Thespis was the earliest recorded actor, and he is often called the "Father of Tragedy." The dramatic performances were important to the Athenians, and a tragedy competition and festival were created to foster loyalty among the tribes of Attica. Greek tragedy and comedy were viewed as completely separate genres. The primary Hellenistic theatrical form was not tragedy but New Comedy, comic episodes about the lives of ordinary citizens. The theatron, orchestra, and skené were part of the Greek theatre complex, and the term theatre eventually came to mean the whole area. Seating in Greek theatres was built into a hill to create a natural viewing space, and the first seats were wooden. After 465 BC, playwrights began using a backdrop or scenic wall called the skené. Masks were a significant element in the worship of Dionysus at Athens and were made of organic materials and not considered permanent objects. Therefore, no physical evidence remains available to us. The masks were most likely made out of lightweight, organic materials like stiffened linen, leather, wood, or cork, with the wig consisting of human or animal hair.Costumes and Masks in Ancient Greek Theatre

• Masks were used in ancient Greek theatre to represent different characters and emotions, and to allow actors to play multiple roles.
• The masks were made of linen, cork, wood, or leather, and were painted with bright colors and exaggerated features.
• The masks helped to amplify the actors' voices and expressions, and to project their emotions to the audience.
• The masks also allowed for quick changes between characters, and helped to create a sense of unity and uniformity among the chorus.
• Male actors wore boots called cothurnus to elevate them above the other actors, while actors with comedic roles wore thin-soled shoes called soccus.
• Male actors playing female roles would wear a wooden structure on their chests to imitate the look of breasts, and another structure on their stomachs to make them appear softer and more feminine.
• Costumes would give off a sense of character, including gender, age, social status, and class.
• Characters of higher class would be dressed in nicer clothing, but everyone was dressed fairly nicely.
• Greek theatre costumes included long robes called chiton, purple and gold for goddesses and powerful women, cloaks decorated with gold stars and jewels for queens and princesses, and armor and helmets adorned with plumes for warriors.
• Costumes were supposed to be colorful and obvious to be easily seen by every seat in the audience.
• Most costuming detail comes from pottery paintings from that time, as costumes and masks were fabricated out of disposable material.
• The Pronomos Vase is a major source of information about ancient Greek theatre, as it shows actors at a show's after party.