1 Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus Introduced and Translated by ...

Introduction
There have never been greater plays written than those by the ancient Greeks of
the fifth century BC. They helped teach the Athenian audience what it was to be a good
citizen, and they are still teaching us what it is to be a good human being.
There were three major playwrights of tragedy in ancient Greece: Aeschylus ca.
525-456 BC; Sophocles ca. 496-406 BC; and Euripides ca. 485-406 BC. In his plays,
Aeschylus shows god confronting god; Sophocles, man confronting god and his fate; and
Euripides shows man confronting him or herself. Sophocles was a great humanist and one
who celebrated the hero. Oedipus is a perfect example.
The first performance of drama is said to have been given by Thespis in Athens
around 534 BC. Groups of people formed choruses, and when the choral leader spoke to
the chorus, dialogue was born. Gradually single actors were added, two, then three, and
possibly even four, but never more than four. The roles were all played by men wearing
masks, at first only citizens, including the playwright. By the end of the 5 th century, the
chorus was made up of fifteen men who sang and danced. Opera which arose in 17 th
century Italy was said to be based on ancient Greek tragedy. The main festival, at which
plays were performed in fifth-century BC Athens, was called the Greater Dionysia. It
took place in the springtime, after the winter storms, so that people from other countries
could attend.
At first these ancient plays were connected ones. Aeschylus wrote a trilogy
containing Laius, Oedipus, and Seven Against Thebes, followed by the satyr play The
Sphinx. These were all on the theme of Oedipus and his family and date to about 467 BC.
Only Seven Against Thebes survives. The Satyr play was a comic play that used the
language of tragedy and often made fun of tragic themes. Comedies, such as those of
Aristophanes, were more free, and often followed the Satyr play. The plays, which were
performed outdoors, began in the morning and continued throughout the day. Zeus, the
god of rain, became a critic. Usually the program for one day would be three tragedies,
one Satyr play and one comedy. The government and wealthy citizens subsidized the
performances. Maintaining a good drama festival at this time was considered as
important as maintaining an army or navy.
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