The Dithyramb and Thespis

Front

What did the Athenians celebrate every September?

Back

The Athenians celebrated the god of the grape, Dionysus, every September.

Front

Who were the satyrs led by in the celebrations?

Back

The satyrs were led by Pam.

Front

What was the role of the strophe in the celebrations?

Back

The strophe was the person asking the question in the songs celebrating Dionysus.

Front

What was the role of the antistrophes in the celebrations?

Back

The antistrophes were those responding to the strophe in the songs.

Front

Who changed the tradition in 535 BCE and how?

Back

Thespis changed the tradition by stepping forward and responding as Dionysus, introducing the idea of pretending to be someone else.

Front

What was the community's reaction to Thespis's action?

Back

The community was in utter shock and believed Thespis was possessed by the devil.

Front

What did Thespis's action lead to the birth of?

Back

Thespis's action led to the birth of drama.

Front

How did the songs evolve over time?

Back

Songs about Dionysus evolved into comedies, while songs about Greek heroes turned into tragedies.