Orthodox theatre in Byzantium

Minos Orphanides (minos@LOGOS.CY.NET)

Thu, 21 Nov 1996 21:42:56 +0200
In the 1989 vol. of "Kypriakai Spoudai" I found an interesting article about
theatre in Byzantine times in Cyprus. Someone had asked about Byzantine
theatre long ago, cannot remember where; if you wish me to xerox it, please
give me your snail mail address. If you wish to buy the volume, I can ask
the Society of Cypriot Studies if they have any left. The most prominent
theatrical plays of the time in Cyprus were "The sacrifice of Abraham", "The
resurrection of Lazarus" and the "Mourning of the Virgin Mary". The article
is in Greek. BTW, the 20 people waiting for the article on Pat.Gennadios
Scholarios will have to wait as I am sending it surface mail, lest it costs
me $100.
In Christ,
Minos Orphanides
minos@logos.cy.net

The History of the Theatre, 8/e. Oscar G. Brockett, University of Texas at

Austin with Franklin J. Hildy, University of Georgia. Copyright 1999 * 720
pp...
Ancient Rome & Byzantium
Monday, Feb. 9
Historical Overview: Brockett, Ch. 3 "Roman & Byzantine Theatre & Drama"
Wednesday, Feb. 11
Documents: Nagler (p.16-36) + Handout of Horace Ars Poetica
Friday, Feb. 13
Activity and Exploration: Rome and Byzantium
List #2 Theatre & Drama of Roman & Byzantium
Concepts, Personages, Events, Structures
From the following list of key concepts, personages, structures, and events, select and prepare
brief definitions of 6 items that you feel to be significant for the historical period and culture
studied. For each item briefly explain the historical and/or cultural significance of the items
and specify why you selected that item to be included on the assignment. Submit in written
form (word-processed or by e-mail), orally, or in web-discussion.(Due 5 p.m. Friday on study
week unless arrangements otherwise have been made.)
Concepts
Roman tragedy (fabula palliata & fabula togata)
Roman comedy(fabula crepidata & fabula praetexta)

farce (fabula Atellanae)

mime (fabula riciniata)
pantomime(fabula saltica)
spectacle & novelty entertainment (chariots, gladiators, venationes, naumachiae)
histriones, status of actors, style
Roman costuming
Byzantine religious drama
Document
Horace's The Art of Poetry
Events
240BC
509-27BC & 27BC-c476AD
ludi Romani
Personages
Plautus
Seneca
Terence
Byzantine scholars & Greek drama
Structures
temporary & permanent theatres
Circus Maximus & Colosseum
Hippodrome
scaena frons
cavea, scaena, pulpitum, vomitoria
Enrichments
Playreading:
Seneca Oedipus or Phaedra
Terence Self-Tormentor
Plautus The Menaechmi
Visuals:
I, Claudius (vol. 1) (NWU library)
Ben Hur (NWU library)
Spartacus
Western Tradition 9-14 (NWU library) (look at two)
Western Tradition 15-16 (NWU library) (about Byzantium)

3. Roman and Byzantine Theatre and Drama.

Etruscan Antecedents.

The Roman Context.

Roman Festivals.
Drama Under the Romans.
Other Entertainments.
Production Arrangements.
The Roman Theatre Structure.
Other Structures for Entertainments.
Scenery.
Actors and Acting.
Masks and Costumes.
Music.
The Decline of the Theatre in Rome.
Theatre in the Eastern Empire.
The Byzantine Theatre.
The Rise of Islam.
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You may find Greek hymns at the Church of Cyprus homepage,
http://www.logos.cy.net/cyprus/chmain.html , slavonic at
http://www.comet.chv.va.us/seraphim and news of Greece and the
Ecumenical Patriarchate at http://www.yale.edu/eox/Diaspora
====== WEEK #7
Tues., 10/20 Seneca (cont.); Transition to the Middle Ages, Medieval Thought and
Symbology; Byzantium. Student papers: Byzantine Theatre and Theatricality; Christian
Iconography. ==============================================