Drama

One of the first types of writing that the Greeks
==== invented was drama.Drama is a written work designed for actors to perform. They were very skilled at writing.They used plays as religious ceremonies. They also did plays for entertainment and honor (mainly for gods and heroes). The plays were popular in Athens. ====

In 400 BC Athens wrote greatest plays in the ancient world**.**
====The writers submitted their work and the city leader chose the one he believed was the best. Aeschylus and Sopholes were famous Greek writers who specialized in tragic dramas.Only men were actors ( they even played women in the plays). The reason why is because men thought it was considered a disgrace to have their women up on stage. There was 15-50 people on chorus, there was only a maximum of three people allowed in the main stage. Drama was also held at religious festivals as a competition. Greeks wrote scripts, the reason we know they did is because we have the scripts and books they wrote. The most famous play in Greek Drama was Oedipus Rex by Suphocles. The Greeks watched plays such as comedies and tragedies. If a play was good the rich citizens paid for extra performers ==== ====There were two main types of drama; Tragedy and Comedy. Tragedy was a serious drama that presented the downfall of an important character, such as the king. They would perform in temples. The temples were in like pediments. ====

[[image:greek_drama_tragedy.jpg width="191" height="130" caption="Tragedy Mask Greek mask at Kayaköy by Astolath http://www.flickr.com/photos/astolath/2786695604/"]]
Greek News Anton Powell, Philip Steele Pg.23, Copyright 1997, Scholastic Co. Ancient Greece Pg.32 John D. Clarke Random House, San Diego, Copyright 1994.