Chronology and History of the Attic Theatre

Origins, Fifth Century, Fourth-Century (and Later) Reception

Massimiliano Ornaghi

• Publisher: De Gruyter
• Year: 2025
• eBook ISBN: 9783111621845
• Edition: 0
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Ancient & Classical Literary Criticism
• Index: History

"Chronology and History of the Attic Theatre" presents the results of research carried out by a wide range of scholars specialised in various fields of ancient theatre studies, brought together in dialogue on a common focus: the history of the Attic theatre, from its origins to the fifth century BCE. Each chapter of the book proceeds from a case study, but aims to draw general conclusions in relation to the main theme. Many types of evidence have been collected and analysed: archaeological evidence, especially from the sixth and fifth centuries BCE; epigraphic evidence, from the sixth century BCE to the Hellenistic period; literary evidence from the tragedies, satyr plays and comedies, but also classical and post-classical texts relating to pre-theatrical performances and the first dramatic contests.
These sources have been used to analyse the different theatrical phenomena from a historical-chronological perspective, looking also at the links between them (or with other artistic expressions) and at the phases of reception and theorisation of classical theatre.
The book thus offers a wealth of information, updated, rethought and linked in original ways, that can contribute to a better vision of the history of ancient Greek theatre.

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• Abbreviations
• List of Figures
• Introduction
• Part I: Background, Origins, and the Lost Theatre: Cults, Contests, Institutions
• Part II: Dionysian Performances: The Athenian Fifth Century
• Part III: Reconstruction of the Past: Post-Classical Views of the Attic Theatre
• Bibliography
• List of Contributors
• Index of Names
• Index of Authors and Quoted Passages
• Index of Inscriptions
• Concordance to Vase Publications