The Greek and Roman Drama

The course is devoted to the development process of theater and the theatrical experience in the Greek and Roman world. During the lessons we will examine the milestones in the history of the theater in antiquity, and become acquainted with the basic dramatic concepts, the theater’s structure and the process of producing the plays, with reference to the various dramatic genres and their textual and performative characteristics. The lessons will be accompanied by close reading (in translation) from the plays of the prominent ancient playwrights: Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, Menander, Plautus, Terence, and Seneca. At the core of the discussions we will investigate the reciprocity between the text, as well as the framework of the dramatic performance, and the political, social and cultural reality in which dramatic plays, which will be discussed during the course, were created and produced.

No previous knowledge required. Course Requirements: full attendance, reading assignments 20%; final examination 80%.