Politik und Theater im klassischen Athen. Die erzieherische Funktion der Tragödie in den 'Perse

Research paper from 2008 in the field of World History - Prehistory, Antiquity, Grade: 1, Technical University of Berlin (Department of Ancient History - Faculty 1), Course: HS-Politics and Theater in Classical Athens, Language: German.

Abstract: What does theater actually have to do with politics? Why did the Athenian citizen spend an entire day at the theater and was even compensated for lost earnings? Tragedy was an important component of Athenian society and reflected the moral and political actions of the polis. It almost always projected the current concerns of society through myth. Due to the familiarity of the material, poets were able to better highlight their own intentions and issues.

It must be noted that Greek theater, specifically tragedy in its cultural and societal form, held a completely different significance in classical Athens than what we associate with theater today. There is a vast chasm of distinguishing features between today's modern theatergoer and the Athenian of the ancient world.

Tragedy was part of a highly significant cult and was closely linked to the city-state of Athens. It was not a resource or mere entertainment for an elite of the educated and bored, but was considered a major affair for the entire festive citizenry. The tragic plays resembled a state event of the polis, in which every citizen had to participate. From morning until late evening, performances took place outdoors in the Agora and later in the Theater of Dionysus at the Acropolis. The staging of the tragedy, and especially the selection of the plays, was organized by the city of Athens and was therefore fundamentally a political matter.