Drama as a Mode of Communication in the Ancient Greek World

Abstract

In the ancient Greek world, drama was a part of their lives, something intimate, frequentand inseparable. It was not the individual choice that took the mass to the Greek theatre,but they were a part of this process of dramas as a nation, which came in the guise ofrituals of festivals, held in honour of god Dionysus. Drama and drama festivals werefacilitated with state recognition and were sponsored by the rulers of the city-states,encouraging the citizens to participate in them. Massive theatre structures wereconstructed, providing seating capacity for thousands. Within such appealingcircumstances, Greek drama has evolved through time, gifting outstanding dramatistsand drama compositions to the world of aesthetics. Greeks being a nation whose liveswere embedded in a performance culture, drama was the most effective and intimate tobe utilized as a mode of communication, during such an ancient period where there wereno other modes of communication like in the world of today.

Key Words: Communication, Performance Culture, Ancient Greek World