Greek Drama Questions

1. What kind of prize is given for dancing choruses of worshippers? A bull or a goat was the prize given.

2. How many spectators would gather in the open-air theater of Dionysos? 

As many as fourteen thousand spectators would gather in the open-air theater of Dionysos.

3. How did the mask affect the voices of the actors? The masks had mouthpieces that made the actors' voices louder, making it easier for the entire audience to hear.

4. Why was Antigone suspenful to viewing audiences?Antigone was suspenseful to the audiences because they already knew what was going to happen while the actors didn't and the audience would try to unsuccessfully warn the actors of the problems they would face. 

5. How is the sheperd to leave the infant on the mountainside? The sheperd was suppose to leave the infant on a lonely mountainside with its ankles pinned together, but luckily the infant took pity and let someone raise the baby.

6. What is the riddle the Sphinx gave to Oedipus? The riddle the Sphinx gave to Oedipus was, "what creature goes on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening?"

7. Who are Oedipus' kids?Oedipus' kids are Polyneices, Eteocles, Antigone, and Ismene.

8. After Oedipus is exiled, who takes over Thebes?After Oedipus was exiled Creon took over Thebes.

9. What did the family do to the body? After death, the family closed the dead person's eyes and mouth and began to prepare the body for the próthesis, the wake. The women of the house washed the body and dressed it in white or in wedding clothes. Then they placed the body on a bier making sure that the feet pointed toward the door and sprinkled it with herbs to make the evil spirits go away. Then the men would enter, their right arms raised high in the air. When the closest relative reached out and held the dead persons head with both hands, the other mourners began to beat their faces and tear their hair. They also wailed and sang to wind pipes.