The Origin of Modern Treagedy

The origins of tragedy in the modern world especially in West are obscure, but it is certainly derived from the poetic and religious traditions of the ancient Hellas (Greece). Its roots may be traced more specifically to the dithyrambs, the chants and dances honouring the Greek god Dionysus, to the Romans known as Bacchus.

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These drunken ecstatic performances were said to have been created by the satyrs, this strange figures, half-goat beings who surrounded Dionysus in his revelry. Prhynichos, son of Polyphradmon and pupil of Thespis, was one of the earliest of the Hellenic (Greek) tragedians. Some of the ancients, indeed, regarded him as the real founder of tragedy. He gained his first poetical victory in 511 BC.

Tragedy, origin and definition:
The word's origin is Greek (τραγωδία) and contracted from [τράγος+αοιδία “tragos-aoidia”] meaning "goat song" from ‘tragos’ = "goat" and ‘aeidein’ = "to sing".
Later in ancient Greece, the word "tragedy" meant any serious drama, not merely those with a sad ending.

Picture: Sochos' Carnival
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Dionysos Party - Wedding
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This meaning may have referred to any of these: Goat-like costumes worn by actors who played the satyrs. A goat being presented as a prize at a song contest. The actors being paid a goat as their pay for appearing on stage. That the first half is not "goat" but 'trageîn' (in 2nd aorist infinitive of trōgein) means "to gnaw". From the same root we have trogo [τρώγω] meaning “to eat”.

Maenads-Achilles
Sexy traditional carnival song
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There is some dissent to the dithyrambic origins of tragedy mostly based in the differences between the shapes of their choruses and styles of dancing. A common descent from pre-Hellenic fertility and burial rites has been suggested. Aristotle is very clear in his Poetics that tragedy proceeded from the authors of the Dithyramb.

Theories of tragedy

The philosopher Aristotle theorized in his work “The Poetics” that tragedy results in a catharsis (emotional cleansing) of healing for the audience through their experience of these emotions in response to the suffering of the characters in the drama. Not all plays that are broadly categorized as "tragedies" result in this type of cathartic ending, though – some have neutral or even ambiguously happy endings. Exactly what constitutes a "tragedy", however, is a frequently debated matter. Some hold that any story with a sad ending is a tragedy, whereas others demand that the story fit a set of requirements often based on Aristotle to be considered a tragedy.

Warm Regards
Georgios

Updated 2009.03.10

This Topic is posted in the FORUM GREECE

Antique tradition: with arrival to the Earth of spring to celebrate ancient Greek God Dionisy, the patron and the founder " spring Dionisy " - solemn processions of retinue of the patron of enologists, grain-growers, wood inhabitants. Itself Dionisy put on the skin of a wild animal turned out inside out, a head decorated with a grapevine, and went ahead of the retinue, blowing in a horn.

And in Ancient Russia very much loved  comedies in which the main thing was the buffoon in the bear skin. Were crumpled not simply cheerfully, but naughty and even angrily. Were pursued both executors, and authors of comedies. But it did not stop ancient Russian, very sharp on language.

Georgios,

Such interesting lessons you always teach us! Thank you for sharing!

huggggsssss,

Chris