Tragedy and Politics for Scribd

14/10/15
Simon Goldhill
Tragedy and Politics

-Nobody in ancient Greece went to the theatre in the way we conceive of it

-All plays to be discussed took place in Athens, 450-401 BC (Greece at this time was a
thoroughly imperial environment), at the Festival of Dionysia

-One could only see plays once, the festival was the only chance – 3 playwrights were
chosen by the state, and the plays were paid for by the state. It was a state-funded
occasion.

-To get a ticket you had to be enrolled politically, that is to say an adult, enfranchised man.

-Each wedge in the theatre probably held a tribe. You sat with those of your socio-political
division.
-Front is most important – Generals, priests, and foreign ambassadors
-Middle – 500 seats for the council. Executive body of government.
-Far left (probably) – foreigners
-Far right (probably) – war orphans

-When you walked in you saw a socio-political representation of the city. If tragedy
represents the city to itself, this was literalized in the audience.

-There were rituals beforehand to make out space as a ritual space

Pre-play rituals

Tragedy is not just a commentary on politics, but is itself a political event

Rituals
1)-Libation and sacrifice (piglets) – interesting in terms of who does it – the 10 generals, the
most important military leaders of the state. They assembled only 3 times a year in such
contexts, so theatre was EXTREMELY important. This would influence how the play would be
seen.

2)Announcement of those who benefitted the state during the year, who were given
awards
-To have this done was seemingly great for your status, but the function was really to
demonstrate the act of the state giving thanks for public service, and so encourage others to
act likewise.
-Your actions are judged according to how they benefit others, so it was a way of
demonstrating the workings of democracy, in which the worthof actions relates to their
value to the common good. It was a public display of ideology.
-This was a highly politicized moment – people were hissed if they were unpopular – it was
politics in action, taking place in the theatre

3)Slaves walk through theatre carrying silver, and then walk out. This was a parade of
tributes.
-After the Persian wars, Athens was instrumental in setting up Delian league, formed to
keep Persia at bay.

-In the 460s, Athens moved the treasury of this league to their capital at the Parthenon, and
used the money to build fleet, and so accrue members/bring in tributes from members.

-Ambassadors were required to sit in the theatre and watch their money paraded round the
theatre. This was a ay of the city publicly performing the notion that ‘We are number 1 – we
are the power.’ It’s an imperial performance.

-Again representing the city to the city and to the world.

-This action was later criticized as ‘A way of becoming hated by everyone’