Sunday 15 November 2020

Greek Dramatics

 Ancient Greek drama on sacred Greek soil


My grandaughter Poppi phoned me the other day, before we locked-down, to say her class would be attending a performance of the greek drama Antigoni the next day and would I like to come and see and take some photos for my blog.  Of course I would! 


The play was being performed amongst the ruins of the Temple to Poseidon, mighty  God of the Sea, and the complex of buildings, meeting places and market in the surrounding area.

  I arrived exactly on time, expecting to wait, as is usual, another half hour before it began but they had started dead on time.  That was the first surprise.



The second surprise was that it was all in modern greek so even I could understand it.  I was captivated.

There they were, just Poppi's class, teachers, me and a few of the crew.  They sat on plastic modern day chairs amidst the olive trees, the ancient stones and excavations of this historical site .







I sat on this base of an ancient column and watched the actors making their entrances from the midst of the ruins, exclaiming the words of Sophocles

Antigoni is a tragedy with a lot of wailing, beating of drums.  It was written around 441BC.  All the main characters kill themselves for love of family  .  There is of course a lot more to it but I'm not going to tell you the plot here.

I enjoyed the play, the whole theatrical atmosphere.  It was extremely well done, from costumes to acting.  Congrats to this travelling troupe.  

The students weren't so enthused.  Ancient greek is a basic lesson in greek schools, just another subject which they must  pass but won't help them much in their future lives.  Just the way I thought about Latin 50 (odd) years ago.  What remained with me over the years was 'amo amas amat amamus amant' and I even had to google the verb to make sure my memory was correct.

 Any other Latin phrases like 'caveat emptor, ad nauseum or bona fide' I picked up mainly through the wide variety of books I read.





17 comments:

  1. I love watching plays like this, but what a fantastic setting to enjoy it in.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great to see the folklore and traditions being retold and acted in an historical setting. It's got to be better than reading it in the classroom. Super photos too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought the kids would like it too. They weren't as enthusiastic as I was . But I went of my own accord.

      Delete
  3. Wow, what a superb setting! Sounds like a lot of fun too, especially with your granddaughter in it! Bravo....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My granddaughter was just in the audience. That was enough for me!

      Delete
  4. What a wonderful experience for your grand daughter and her classmates and in such a beautiful setting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope they do more of these plays once the virus disappears. It was perfect!

      Delete
  5. That would have been great to watch especially with your grand daughter in it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Grandaughter was just watching it. Great atmosphere and acting

      Delete
  6. We went to Epidavros to see The Birds last summer and what struck me was how relevant the play's subject could be in any age. Although written over two thousand years ago, played in modern Greek (and with a few of the political jokes updated with modern names and events) it still described society and political motivations as we experience them today. The language of ancient Greek may no longer be is use but neither is the English of Shakespeare, and his plays are enjoyed around the world in a myriad of languages, and in so many imaginative setiings and interpretations, that even if one doesn't want to contemplate the deeper meanings it is still entertaining. Travelling troupes are also an ancient concept and must have double struggle to survive in the age of films, TV ..... and COVID, so I'm pleased to know some survive. Live theatre is so much more engaging than film, and all the better for the setting you enjoyed it in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's the first time I've seen anything like this up at the temple complex. I hope they use it more for this Greek experience.
      I've been to epidavros once years ago. A performance to be remembered always. As also was a performance Rosencrantz and Guildenstein in a small theatre in Auckland when I was in High School. I can still smell that stage paint, props, theatrical smell

      Delete
  7. Lucky students to have the opportunity to experience that. Although I suppose it is the adults who possibly would appreciate the historical significance of the location more than the young ones?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exactly. The kids Just saw it as an opportunity to get out of the classroom

      Delete
  8. baby boomers are going to get abused and treated like garbage in the retirement homes. Maybe you boomers shouldn't have been so selfish and arrogant and greedy. Literally everyone hates baby boomers now. Enjoy those retirement homes, and good luck, boomers!

    ReplyDelete
  9. We didn’t learn Latin or Ancient Greek. We learnt Indonesian
    And I just couldn’t get it into my head
    It would of been lovely to sit and enjoy a live show
    Thanks for the pics

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indonesian? Now that's a language I would never have thought of learning. I know that Japanese was on the curriculum in NZ schools. Probably is along with Chinese.

      Delete