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The Greek Theater

Michael L McClain
St James, NY

Other sites of interest

Greek Plays: Summaries and Resources

Rush Rehm: Classical Greek Theater

February 19, 2012

Rush Rehm's Greek Tragic Theater is a excellent review of the classical Greek theater. The book has two parts: an extended essay on the social and theatrical background of the classical Greek tragedies and analyses of six "exemplary plays."

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How Did Achilles Die?

February 15, 2012

Everyone agrees that Paris killed Achilles with an arrow during the siege of Troy, but the details of his death are subject to debate.

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A Gift From an Enemy

February 4, 2012

After fighting for several years against the Trojans, Ajax went mad. He was infuriated because Agamemnon and Menelaus gave the armor of Achilles to Odysseus instead of to him. One night he prowled the camp intent on killing the three men, but Athena cast a spell on him.

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When Did the Herdsman Know?

August 22, 2010

Everything in Sophocles' Oedipus the King leads up to or follows from Oedipus' horrible realization that he is the murderer of his father and husband of his mother. But before he recognizes the truth, two others precede him

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Why Did Artemis Prevent the Wind from Blowing?

2010

The seer Calchas has told Agamemnon that he must sacrifice his daughter to Artemis before the ships could sail for Troy. Accounts of the origins of Artemis' anger vary.

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When Did Jocasta Know?

2010

In Oedipus the King, the Corinthian messenger's announcement leads Oedipus to a search for his identity. But before Oedipus realizes who he is, Jocasta recognizes the awful truth and recoils in horror.

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Where Did Philoctetes Get His Bow?

June 17, 2010
Ancient Greek tragedies employ few props. Those that are used, however, are crucial. One of the most storied props in the classical theater is Philoctetes' bow.

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Glorious Victor Defeated in War of Words

June 17, 2010
When Clytemnestra welcomes Agamemnon back to Argos, she tells the servants to roll out the red carpet for his entrance into the palace. He balks...

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Who Took Orestes from Argos?

June 17, 2010
In each of the three versions of the return of Orestes, Orestes comes back from Phocis where he was taken as a baby. Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides give differing accounts of who took him away.

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Pheres: A Horrible Old Man?

June 17, 2010
In his introduction to Alcestis, Richmond Lattimore describes Pheres, the father of Admetus, as 'a horrible old man'. I am not sure I agree.

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