Ancient Greek Historiography and Classical Theater

Item 9: The Evolution of Greek Historiography

There are two distinct periods in Greek historiography: the first extends from Homer to Herodotus, and the second spans from Herodotus to Polybius and the development of Latin historiography.

Herodotus: The Father of History

Herodotus lived through the second Persian War (historically known as the Greco-Persian or Medical Wars) and the beginning of the Peloponnesian War. He authored a significant historical work, later divided into books by Alexandrian scholars. This work primarily focuses on the Persian Wars that confronted the Greeks and Persians.

Main Features of Herodotus' Work:

• Theme: The central theme is the Persian Wars.
• Universal History: It is considered the first attempt at a universal story.
• Structure: While previously believed to be disordered due to a love of digression and the inclusion of geographic data, modern scholars view this structure as deliberate.
• Sources: He consulted both written and oral sources, frequently quoting Hecataeus.
• Objectivity: He maintained objectivity despite criticisms of bias in favor of Athens. He also provided a critique of myth and divinity; while gods appear in his history, they do so indirectly.
• Language: He used a vernacular-based language influenced by Homeric and Attic Greek.

Thucydides: Rational and Critical History

Thucydides was an Athenian who lived through the events of the Peloponnesian War. His account of this war reached eight books but remains unfinished. The first book serves as a prologue, recounting how Greece was divided into two camps.

Main Features of Thucydides' Work:

• Methodology: He sought to create a work different from that of Herodotus, abandoning the model of universal history in favor of a rational and critical Athenian history.
• Focus: He avoided unnecessary excursuses (digressions).
• Organization: The work follows a strict chronological organization.
• Objectivity: He aimed for an objective narrative, utilizing speeches to make history a form of grammatical and political analysis.
• Purpose: The main use of his history was to enable individuals to understand the past to anticipate future events.
• Style: He used the Attic language with an archaic flavor, maintaining a high, formal style. His primary source was the foundation laid by Herodotus.

Xenophon: Pedagogy and Practical History

Xenophon was an Athenian who wrote after the defeat in the Peloponnesian War. A follower of the teachings of the Sophists, his interests spanned history, oratory, and philosophy. Among his notable works are Hellenica and Cyropaedia.

Features as an Author:

• Stature: He is considered a smaller figure when compared to Herodotus or Thucydides.
• Practicality: He was a practical writer interested in pedagogy and education.
• Dialogue: He made extensive use of discourses and dialogues.
• Narrative Style: His work is full of stories, excursuses, and novelistic elements. His style is notably clear and simple.

Item 11: The Foundations of Ancient Greek Theater

The Greek theater is composed of three primary genres: Tragedy, Comedy, and Satyr Drama. These plays addressed the great problems of man, including destiny, liberty, love, and death.

Genres and Themes of Greek Drama

• Comedy: Concerns everyday matters and typically poses a problematic situation. The style and language are not elevated, utilizing the popular vernacular.
• Satyr Drama: Features legendary and heroic themes.
• Similarities: Both tragedy and comedy are fundamentally related to the cult of the god Dionysus.

Famous Authors and the Role of the Chorus

The most famous authors include Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides in tragedy, and Aristophanes and Menander in comedy.

The Greek Chorus:

The chorus was an essential element. Its basic function was to provide a link to the action on stage. The Greek chorus was responsible for singing and dancing, performing in the orchestra area. The organization and representation of a tragedy relied heavily on the interaction between the actors and the chorus.