The pre-play ceremonies of the Athenian Great Dionysia : a reappraisal
This doctoral thesis focuses on the dramatic festival of the Great (or City) Dionysia and its related pre-play ceremonies, for which the role of democracy has been intensely debated. Scholars have explored the socio-political value of the festival's pre-play ceremonies which took place in the theatre before the dramatic performances, in front of the audience: the libation to Dionysus poured by the ten generals, the display of the allies' tributes, the Athenian war-orphans' parade and the public proclamation of honours and crowns. The prevailing view still relates the celebration of these rituals to democratic ideology. However, this assumed situation masks a number of issues. Through four chapters, each dedicated to one pre-play ceremony, first I show that the four pre-play ceremonies did not occur simultaneously, and thus should not be understood as part of a holistic and democratically-oriented propaganda programme. As a second step, an exhaustive investigation into the historical sources and socio-political value of the ceremonies is provided: it will be shown that democracy and the ideology related to it were less involved than one might suppose. Lastly, I highlight that the Dionysia and its pre-play ceremonies
Giannotti, Andrea
The pre-play ceremonies of the Athenian Great Dionysia : a reappraisal. This doctoral thesis focuses on the dramatic festival of the Great (or City) Dionysia and its related pre-play ceremonies, for which the role of democracy has been intensely debated. Scholars have explored the socio-political value of the festival's pre-play ceremonies which took place in the theatre before the dramatic performances, in front of the audience: the libation to Dionysus poured by the ten generals, the display of the allies' tributes, the Athenian war-orphans' parade and the public proclamation of honours and crowns. The prevailing view still relates the celebration of these rituals to democratic ideology. However, this assumed situation masks a number of issues. Through four chapters, each dedicated to one pre-play ceremony, first I show that the four pre-play ceremonies did not occur simultaneously, and thus should not be understood as part of a holistic and democratically-oriented propaganda programme. As a second step, an exhaustive investigation into the historical sources and socio-political value of the ceremonies is provided: it will be shown that democracy and the ideology related to it were less involved than one might suppose. Lastly, I highlight that the Dionysia and its pre-play ceremonies
pre play ceremony athenian great reappraisal doctoral focus dramatic festival great city relate pre play ceremony role democracy intensely debate scholars explore socio_political value festival pre play ceremony take_place theatre dramatic performance front audience general display ally tribute athenian war public proclamation honour crown prevail_view still relate celebration ritual democratic ideology however assume situation mask number issue dedicate pre play ceremony first show pre play ceremony occur simultaneously thus understood part holistic oriented propaganda programme second step exhaustive investigation historical_source socio_political value ceremony provide show democracy ideology relate less involved one_might suppose lastly highlight pre play ceremony