carl marx
...alled maenads. The most controversial involved a unique form of danicing and emotional displays of ecstacy, which they called ecstasis. This form of dancing was very important to the Greeks, who saw theatre as a way of releasing all kinds of emotions and becoming free. The cult of Dionysus spread south over Greece for six centuries, and by 600 B.C. the rites of Dionysus were practiced throughout most of Greece. The Dithyramb An important part of the rites of Dionysus was the Dithyramb. It was an ode to him, which was performed by fifty men who were dressed as satyrs, mythological servants who were half-human and half-goat. This began as a religious ceremony but evolved into greek stories and dramas. Golden Age of Greek Theatre By 600 B.C., Greece was divided into city-states, the most prominent being Athens, in which 150,000 people lived. Here, the rites of Dionysis evolved into theatre today. Competitions In 534 B.C., the ruler of Athens created drama competitions, which became popular annual events. The archon, which was a government leader, would choose who would compete, and he would choose choregos, the wealthy people who would pay for these competitions to be held. In return for funding these competitions, they would not have to pay taxes for that year. Amphitheaters Import...