Illustrations of Greek Drama

The aim of this book is to give a visual idea of what the dramatic performances of the ancient Greek world looked like from their beginnings down to the Hellenistic period by means of a series of illustrations, taken for the most part from Greek vase-paintings, which either actually represent or else were directly inspired by pre-dramatic or dramatic productions. The introduction makes refercnce to the patrons for whom these works of art were made and then deals with the theatre, costumes, scenery, etc. in Attica and South Italy in successive periods. The stries of pictures, several of which are here published for the first time, is divided into Predramatic performances, Tragedy and Comedy, and pives a wide coverage of scenes inspired by, or directly illustrating, various plays rather than inerely representing masks or costumes for their own cake. The illustrations of Tragedy extend over a considerable period of time and are of particular interest for the light they shed upon changing tarte; noteworthy, in particular, is the steady rise in the popularity of Euripidean drama from c.400 B.C. onwards. Most of the representations of Comedy are taken from the Phlyax vases of the fourth century B.C., and the New Comedy of Menander is well illustrated by mosaics and terracottas from several différent sites, concluding chronologically with two examples of the recently discovered mosaics of c. A.D. 3300 from Mytilene. Each illustration is accompanied by a commcntary and bibliography and, where feasible, less familiar representation of the better-known tragedies have been chosen. Many newly discovered vases are here illustrated, some for the first time, and others with better photographs than those hitherto available.