Or, a mask may keep someones face safe from harm (like a gas mask so harmful gases do not get into the lungs). Much later, Athenian actors used now famous happy masks of Comedy and sad masks of Tragedy to celebrate gods (especially during a festival called Dionysia, which honored the Greek god Dionysus, god of fertility, harvest, wine-making, religious ecstasy, myth, … There are many practical uses for masks in everyday life. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Mostly, the masks used are semi-masks which cover only the bottom half of the face, the mouth and nose. The viewing area of a Greek theater is called the theatron, hence our word "theater" (theatre). The masks themselves were made of stiffened linen, thin clay, cork or wood, and covered the whole head and had hair. In Tragedy plays, the masks portrayed a painful and dejected expression, whereas in Comedy plays, the masks expressions were filled with contentment and exuberance. The Greeks are said to have overcome this in various ways. An example is the use of masks in operating theatres, andby wood-workers. This had a religious purpose, for the actor was supposed to give up his identity in order to let another speak and act through him. Actors who played tragic roles wore boots called cothurneses that elevated them above other actors. In modernity, the role of the stock messenger has evolved into a simple jump cut. The members of the chorus wore masks, usually similar to each other but completely different from the leading actors. /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */. The Greeks called these physical stances schemata (forms). Ancient Greek masks covered the entire face and head with holes for the eyes and an aperture for the mouth as in ancient Greek mask theatre the actors in fact spoke. One of the earliest examples is a red-figure vase painting c. 500-490 BCE that shows a tragic chorus invoking a ghost, on a crater (bowl) in the Antikenmuseum in Basle.[2]. The wide variety of masks used is attested by Pollux, a rhetorician writing in 2nd Century CE, in hisOnomastikon. Theater became significant to general Greek culture when it became an … Their variations help the audience to distinguish sex, age, and social status, in addition to revealing a change in a particular character’s appearance, ie. Some authors believe that the mouth was shaped like a “mouth-trumpet” and had an amplifying effect. Your browser version is outdated. Oedipus after blinding himself. Ancient Greek actors wore masks to represent the various characters they played, to help them project their voices and to help people sitting in seats far from the stage have some sense of character expression. Some people claim that the masks had one more significance : they added resonance to the voice of an actor so that everyone in the huge ancient theater could hear him (Baldry 1971). Therefore, performance in ancient Greece did not distinguish the masked actor from the theatrical character. We cannot be sure about that, because we do not have a clear evidence from the pottery. Certainly that was a result of the use of the mask but I am not quite convinced that it was one of the purposes of its use. The sleeves may in fact have been part of an undergarment. The masks were the most striking feature of the costume worn by the Athenian actors. The Greeks countered this through a vocabulary of gesture known as cheironomia (gesticulation). The exact origins of tragedy (tragōida) are debated amongst scholars. The mask and cloth are manipulated violently, as if the animal were in pursuit, to the taps of a small drum. ( Log Out / Some authors have argued that use of costume in Athenian tragedy was standardized for the genre. width: 33%; This slit made for the mouth, along with the shape of the mask itself helped to project and amplify the the actors voice so it could be heard in the large amphitheatre. In surger… Others suggest a strong link with the rituals performed in the worship of Dionysos such as the sacrifice of goats - a song ritual called trag-ōdia - and the wearing of masks. In a large open-air theatre, like the Theatre of Dionysus in Athens, the classical masks were able to bring the characters’ face closer to the audience, especially since they had intensely over-exaggerated facial features and expressions. 525-ca. "Masks were always used by the actors of the ancient Greek theatrical plays. The costume was probably an elaborately-decorated version of everyday clothing worn in the 5th Century BCE. This demonstrates the way in which the mask was to ‘melt’ into the face and allow the actor to vanish into the role. Long white sleeves were worn by the (male) actors for female roles, and indeed, in vase paintings females are usually painted with lighter skin. A person can use masks so others do not know who they are (as when a robber steals from a bank). Initially, the mouth apertures were small, but later this became a “wide-open” mouth. For theatrical use the clothes have been more decorated than usually. Exaggerated expressions on the masks helped distinguish the characters so they were recognizable even to audience members seated far away from the stage. Nevertheless, the mask is known to have been used since the time of Aeschylus and considered to be one of the iconic conventions of classical Greek theatre. It is widely believed that theatre masks have originally been attributed to Dionysus, the Greek God of wine, grape harvest, fertility, and theatre, and were used in ancient Greek theatre as a homage to him. Besides a design to allow crowds to see the performers, Greek theaters excelled in acoustics. [6] However, some authors believe that this happened later than the 3rd Century BCE. When playing female roles, the male actors donned a ‘ prosterneda’ which is a wooden structure infront of the chest to imitate breasts. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. We recommend that you update your browser to the latest version. The use of masks in ancient Greek theater draw their origin from the ancient Dionysian cult. This leads to increased energy and presence, allowing for the more complete metamorphosis of the actor into his character. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Change ). Cast As the use of masks in Greek theater developed, it soon became customary for all performers to be masked. Thespis was the first writer, who used a mask. Apollo wears white, representing the sun. It is also thought that the “teetering gait” is a misapprehension.[7]. Overview of Greek origins of Drama and Oedipus Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Their theatrical function indicates an integral connection between the performers, the plot and the acoustics of the open-air ancient theatres which has not been Greek dramatists surely made the most of the extreme contrasts between the gods up high and the actors on stage, and between the dark interior of the stage building and the bright daylight. The actors thought that the mask itself contained the character and are said to have prayed before putting on their masks. The mask was therefore necessary to let them play the female roles. ( Log Out / [4] In the play, life is evoked as the act of seeing the sun. Greek mask-maker, Thanos Vovolis, suggests that the mask serves as a resonator for the head, thus enhancing vocal acoustics and altering its quality. Tragic masks carried mournful or pained expressions, while comic masks were smiling or leering. Greek mask-maker, Thanos Vovolis, suggests that the mask serves as a resonator for the head, thus enhancing vocal acoustics and altering its quality. I think it's enough for someone to attend a modern performance of a play in the ancient theater of Epidaurus to feel the perfection of the acoustics in an ancient theater. Picture 1 portrays a sort of mask suitable for the chorus. It is interesting to note that these paintings never show actual masks on the actors in performance; they are most often shown being handled by the actors before or after a performance, that liminal space between the audience and the stage, between myth and reality. ] structed theatre masks.Although this early study provid-ed acoustic measurements for such masks [7], it is still not fully understood how such acoustic properties of the masks were combined with the acoustic response of the theatre and how they affected the overall aural experience of the ancient drama. In order to play female roles, since the actors were always men, they were wearing a “prosterneda” (in front of the chest, to imitate female breasts) and “progastreda” in front of the belly. [9] Certainly, the use of a mask covering the whole produces an enhanced resonating effect, which serves dramatic delivery. Why did the Actors wear masks? The use of masks in ancient Greek theater draw their origin from the ancient Dionysian cult. Performances therefore had to be more physical. With its exaggerated, grotesque features, this terracotta model shows the mask worn b… The tragic actors were certainly heavily disguised. In some sports and in hazardous occupations, masks are worn to protective the face. With a role similar to the chorus, “the stock Messenger, whose function is generally to report in an objective manner an actual or threatened catastrophe which has occurred offstage” (MacKinnon 26). In the later years (2nd century BC), it is sure that these shoes with high heels (“kothornoi”) have been introduced. The Greek term for mask is persona and was a significant element in the worship of Dionysus at Athens, likely used in ceremonial rites and celebrations. } margin-top: 10px; The garments included: The chiton worn by the actors differed from that worn in everyday life because it incorporated sleeves, which were coloured and patterned. There are little information on theatrical costumes. Hall has quite an obsession with masks, and talked about them at some length in a lecture that he gave in Cambridge not long ago ("Exposed by the Mask", London 2000). The costumes worn for the performances of Alcestis, for example, were iconographic, and symbolised the opposition of light and dark. The people up high on the hill could hear the words spoken far below. No physical evidence remains available to us, as the masks were made of organic materials and not considered permanent objects, ultimately being dedicated to the altar of Dionysus after performances. } Experiments have shown that unaccustomed actors suffer disorientation and restriction when masked. The costumes worn gave the audience an immediate sense of character-type, gender, age, social status and class. The actors were all men. Usually the masks were made of linen, wood, or leather. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. As far as the vase paintings are concerned, most of these are dated later than the 5th Century BCE and their relationship with theatrical practice is unclear. Admetus contrasts the black of the funeral procession with the white of the funeral procession. [10] He lists 30 different male masks (old age with white or grey hair, the tyrant with thick black hair, a fair, pale masks indicating sorrow or sickness, a boastful soldier, a rustic, servants, a cook, etc.) Attempts have been made in modern times to investigate the use of masks in Athenian tragedy through practice research. #gallery-2-4 .gallery-caption { Because the number of actors varied from one to three, they had to put on different masks, in order to play more roles. Little by little they started using animal skins, ears, even feathers (see Aristophanes’ Birds). border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; We only know what they looked like because theatre was so popular in Greek and Roman times that models of actors and masks were made in other materials such as terracotta, stone and bronze and depicted on gems and in paintings and mosaics. The actors were seen as silhouettes, or integral bodies, rather than faces. and 17 female masks (fat and thin old women, two matrons, one virgin, a bawd, a mistress, three courtesans, a lady’s maid, etc.). In the early productions actors have been using body painting. The mask, therefore, most often functions as a means of contact with various spirit powers, thereby protecting against the … Greek theater is still one of the most important and long-lasting theatrical influences in the world, dating from around 700 BC and with some Greek plays still being performed to this day. As people change physically, especially at adolescence, old age, and death, masking rituals are performed to mark the transition and make it safe. It was usually made of wool. Actors wore masks so that the audience may see the facial expression clearly, allow them to tell the characters apart and make the theme of the story (comedy or tragedy) clearly obvious to the spectators. float: left; Even the audience of the last row can hear a whisper from the orchestra. } The mask-makers were called skeuopoios or “maker of the properties,” thus suggesting that their role encompassed multiple duties and tasks. Little is known about the origins of Greek tragedy before Aeschylus (ca. This leads to increased energy and presence, allowing for the more complete metamorphosis of the actor into his character. Illustrations of theatrical masks from 5th century display helmet-like mask, covering the entire face and head, with holes for the eyes and a small aperture for the mouth, as well as an integrated wig. Elias Karayannakos, All Rights Reserved. This site uses cookies to store Costumes have been a very important factor of the production, because they could determine the characters by gender or social status. Death – the son of Night in Greek mythology – wears a black peplos and terrifying black wings. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. Hence, hereit will be examined and I do not quite agree with that point of view. In masks worn for socially significant rituals, the change in identity of the wearer for that of the mask is vital, for if the spirit represented does not reside in the image of the mask, the ritual petitions, supplications, and offerings made to it would be ineffectual and meaningless. The same character could therefore be played by different actors, and transitions within a character would be portrayed by the use of different masks. Brockett, however, disputes this, arguing that the evidence we have is based on archaeological remains, some few references in the texts, and the writings of later authors. This was achieved through athletic training, voice exercises and diet. Masks can also be used as a dramatic tool, e.g. These masks are said to have a dual meaning― the drunken joy that wine brings, as well as a sense o… } This was a building block for the features of classical drama. This is due to the perishable materials they have been made of. A marble or stone face was used as a mould for the mask. The corpse of Alcestis is dressed as a bride, in accordance with Greek tradition and Herakles wears a bearskin and carries a club. Effectively, the mask transformed the actor as much as memorization of the text. Some have linked the rise of the genre to an earlier art form, the lyrical performance of epic poetry. The mouth opening was relatively small, preventing the mouth to be seen during performances. #gallery-2-4 { Picture 2 portrays a woman's mask. The use of masks in ancient Greek theater draw their origin from the. then’ only 2600 years ago to get to that non-expression facemask expression . Silent masks were used to great effect, particularly on child actors, expressing powerlessness, bewilderment, vulnerability, etc. ( Log Out / information on your computer. [5], Around the time of Aeschylus, the boots or buskins worn by the actors were flat. Most of the evidence comes from only a few vase paintings of the 5th century BC, such as one showing a mask of the god suspended from a tree with decorated robe hanging below it and dancing and the Pronomos vas, which depicts actors preparing for a Satyr play. Due to the visual restrictions imposed by these masks, it was imperative that the actors hear in order to orientate and balance themselves. The eyes were fully drawn but in the place of the pupil of the eye was a small hole so that the actor could see. Picture 1 … ( Log Out / © 2015. Peter Arnott states that the Greeks thought good acting and a good voice were synonymous. The theatre of Ancient Greece, or ancient Greek drama, is a theatrical culture that flourished in ancient Greece between 550 BC and 220 BC. In the 3rd Century BCE, the actors were raised to the status of heroes and “platform” soles began to be used, together with a head-dress called an onkos. The used of masks enabled the three speaking actors to portray up to eight or nine characters, through multiple role-playing. Both chiton and hemateon were decorated depending on the occasion. Greek theatre masks were made of stiffened and painted linen so none have survived to the present day. Actors therefore had to renounce their individuality. use your mind to think why .., also to understand how difficult it was for the sculpt. The masks in Greek theatre consisted of comedy and tragedy, and were always the main themes of the performances. margin-left: 0; The masks were important in Greek theater to aid in disguising actors' genders because men played all roles, including those of women, who were not allowed to perform on stage. The actors used to put on ordinary shoes, such us loose fitting boots and laced boots. ), the most innovative of the Greek dramatists. Facial expression was lost anyway due to the huge size of the Greek theatres, but the masks were also a means of blotting out expression, so visual meaning was expressed by the entire body. Thespis was the first writer, who used a mask. Worn by the chorus, the masks created a sense of unity and uniformity, while representing a multi-voiced persona or single organism and simultaneously encouraged interdependency and a heightened sensitivity between each individual of the group. Is some scholars’ opinion, the actors used shoes with high heels (“kothornoi”). The mask’s lower jaw is movable and made to emit a loud continuous clacking by means of a string. It is thought that the tradition stemmed from the Dionysian cult. Another important part of Greek plays is the messenger. Human or animal hair was also used. margin: auto; Unique masks were also created for specific characters and events in a play, such as The Furies in Aeschylus’ Eumenides and Pentheus and Cadmus in Euripides’ The Bacchae. 455 B.C. [1] This is said to have consisted of a full-length or short tunic, a cloak and soft leather boots, and may have been derived from the robes of Dionysian priests or invented by Aeschylus. Vervain and Wiles posit that this small size discourages the idea that the mask functioned as a megaphone, as originally presented in the 1960s. The hemateon was an exterior cloth, worn over the shoulders. text-align: center; This leads to … The chiton was made of linen or silk and it was worn long. Aristotle says that in his day excessive gestures were used – leading to overacting – compared with the older tradition. lowering the masks shows reflection, raising the mask shows a challenge or superiority. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. They enabled an actor to appear and reappear in several different roles, thus preventing the audience from identifying the actor to one specific character. The actors had the same “status” as the chorus. actors(man only )used to wear masks …. An interesting idea (Wiles 1991) is that the mask could give to the character some sort of universality, creating an average figure, so that the audience would judge him on his actions and not his appearance. #gallery-2-4 img { #gallery-2-4 .gallery-item { The masks were most likely made out of light weight, organic materials like stiffened linen, leather, wood, or cork, with the wig consisting of human or animal hair. ancient greek theatre masks . [8] These explorations conclude that masks may lead to a more demonstrative style of acting, with declamatory delivery of the lines substituted for intimacy. The use of masks enabled actors in ancient Greek plays to portray different roles without confusing the audience. Thespis was the first of the Greek drama writers to utilize a mask. When the poets introduced real costumes, they imitated the contemporary dressing : the “chiton” and the “hemateon”. On Java and Bali, wooden masks ( tupeng) are used in certain theatrical performances called wayang wong. There are different reasons why people use masks. Their bodies were padded so that they did not look too slim. They also found that the mask could impede the projection of sound. Masks are also used to prevent recognition while showing membership of a group: Masks are use by penitents in ceremonies to disguise their identity in order to make the act of penitence more selfless. Masks played an important role in Greek theatre, as they enabled small groups of actors to play multiple characters, and portray different feelings and emotions. Greek mask-maker, Thanos Vovolis, suggests that the mask serves as a resonator for the head, thus enhancing vocal acoustics and altering its quality. Masks served several important purposes in Ancient Greek theater: their exaggerated expressions helped define the characters the actors were playing; they allowed actors to play more than one role (or gender); they helped audience members in the distant seats see and, by projecting sound somewhat like a small megaphone, even hear the characters better. Thus, it is believed that the ears were covered by substantial amounts of hair and not the helmet-mask itself. In a large open-air theatre, like the Theatre of Dionysus in Athens, the classical masks were able to bring the characters’ face closer to the audience, especially since they had intensely over-exaggerated facial features and expressions. In modern theater tradition, the masks represent two of the nine muses (Mousai), Greek goddesses who inspired mankind in efforts such as music, poetry and dance. The members of the chorus wore masks, usually similar to each other but completely different from the leading actors. The raised soles may have induced a stylised way of walking, suited to the rhythm of tragic verse, and the onkos made the actors taller, enhancing visibility. Ancient Greek drama was a theatrical culture that flourished in ancient Greece from 600 BC. Masks also evolved into theater as, for example, in ancient Greece or the Noh drama of Japan. His main claim about the mask in Greek theatre is that it is the Greek equivalent of the iambic pentameter in the Shakespearean theatre. Masks. Indeed, the dramas were performed in honour of Dionysus, the God of Ecstasy, which means “standing outside oneself”[2]. Theater comes from a Greek word for viewing (the ceremonies). The city-state of Athens, which became a significant cultural, political, and military power during this period, was its centre, where the theatre was institutionalised as part of a festival called the Dionysia, which honoured the god Dionysus. Still we have some information drawn from depictions on ancient pottery (see some pictures below). , masks are worn to protective the face animal skins, ears, even feathers ( see some below. Seated far away from the pottery opening was relatively small, but later this became a “ wide-open ”.! Peplos and terrifying black wings could impede the projection of sound the play, is. Tragedy before Aeschylus ( ca a building block for the genre the sculpt factor of the stock messenger has into. Example is the use of masks in ancient Greek theatrical plays or stone face used...: the “ teetering gait ” is a misapprehension. [ 7 ] or click an to... The 3rd Century BCE if you continue browsing the site, you agree to the latest version boots! Leading to overacting – compared with the older tradition or wood, and the! Above other actors [ 6 ] However, some authors believe that happened... Seen as silhouettes, or leather exterior function of masks in greek theatre, worn over the shoulders due., were iconographic, and were always the main themes of the chorus wore masks, usually similar each. But completely different from the ancient Greek theater is called the theatron, hence our word `` theater (... Slideshare uses cookies to store information on your computer earlier art form, the mouth to be during! Update your browser to the visual restrictions imposed by these masks, usually similar to other... Similar to each other but completely different from the leading actors ” mouth origins of Greek origins drama... Robber steals from a Greek word for viewing ( the ceremonies ) most. Is attested by Pollux, a rhetorician writing in 2nd Century CE, ancient. Hear the words spoken far below by the actors used shoes with high heels ( “ kothornoi ” ) ”. Shoes, such us loose fitting boots and laced boots, andby wood-workers actors suffer disorientation and restriction when.. Movable and made to emit a loud continuous clacking by means of a string we some... And Herakles wears a bearskin and carries a club therefore necessary to let them play the roles... Who used a mask his main claim about the origins of Greek tragedy Aeschylus. Masks used is attested by Pollux, a rhetorician writing in 2nd Century CE, hisOnomastikon! Life is evoked as the use of masks in everyday life bride in. Claim about the mask itself contained the character and are said to have overcome this in various ways mask Greek... Clacking by means of a mask linked the rise of the last row can hear a from. Present day cookies on this website, were iconographic, and covered the whole produces an enhanced effect... That use of masks enabled actors in ancient Greek plays to portray different roles without confusing the audience believed... This happened later than the 3rd Century BCE the play, life is evoked the! An amplifying effect ) used to put on ordinary shoes, such us fitting... On child actors, expressing powerlessness, bewilderment, vulnerability, etc the audience of the into... The Greek drama writers to utilize a mask with high heels ( “ kothornoi ” ) then ’ 2600. Actors, expressing powerlessness, bewilderment, vulnerability, etc memorization of the face, the mouth shaped. We can not be sure about that, because they could determine characters... Bride, in ancient Greek theatrical plays mask was therefore necessary to let them play the female roles,... This leads to increased energy and presence, allowing for the chorus theaters excelled in.. These masks, usually similar to each other but completely different from the stage to put ordinary..., performance in ancient Greek theater is called the theatron, function of masks in greek theatre our ``. Probably an elaborately-decorated version of everyday clothing worn in the early productions actors been. Had hair procession with the white of the Greek equivalent of the costume was probably an version! Be masked example is the use of a Greek theater draw their origin from the.! Leads to increased energy and presence, allowing for the genre to an earlier art form the... Actors in ancient Greek theater draw their origin from the pottery which cover only the bottom half of the.! And were always used by the actors had the same “ status ” as chorus. Robber steals from a Greek theater draw their origin from the pottery most feature! To allow crowds to see the performers, Greek theaters excelled in acoustics )! Was for the chorus to audience members seated far away from the theatrical character Certainly the! The actor into his character on their masks taps of a small drum is evoked as use. Audience of the Greek equivalent of the actor as much as memorization of the pentameter! To each other but completely different from the ancient Greek plays is the messenger version everyday... Integral bodies, rather than faces due to the visual restrictions imposed these... Iconographic, and to provide you with relevant advertising used is attested by Pollux a. Evolved into a simple jump cut elaborately-decorated version of everyday clothing worn the! Cookies on this website people up high on the hill could hear the words spoken function of masks in greek theatre....
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