THE GREAT DIONYSIA

AND THE LESSER LENEIA

Dionysus. Closeup of a Kleophrades painted vase: 500-490 BC

In late Elaphêboliôn (which we call March), to coincide with the fermentation of the new wine, was the City Dionysia or the Great Dionysia.

How did the festival begin?

There are many legends surrounding the beginning of this festival.

Some are extreme: 
"According to tradition, the festival was established after Eleutherae, a town on the border between Attica and Boeotia, had chosen to become part of Attica. The Eleuthereans brought a statue of Dionysus to Athens, which was initially rejected by the Athenians. Dionysus then punished the Athenians with a plague affecting the male genitalia, which was cured when the Athenians accepted the cult of Dionysus. This was recalled each year by a procession of citizens carrying phalloi." (Wikipedia, City Dionysia, Aug. 14, 2014)

 Some are less so:
"When Pisistratus became tyrant of Athens in 547 BC it marked a change of direction for the city-state and the surrounding land of Attica, which despite its large size and power was overshadowed by many of the other city-states of Greece. During the long period of his rule, Pisistratus sought to correct this. He began by constructing new public buildings, such as a 'fountain house' to improve the city's water supply, and new temples on the Acropolis. Eager to glorify the city, he introduced major new festivals, including the Panathenaic Festival, a midsummer procession and sports event dedicated to Athene, and the City Dionysia, the first known drama competitions." (Pisistratus Rules as Tyrant & Reforms the Economy at http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/background/6.html) The festival of tragedies was believed to have been founded in 534 BC, which Thespis is said to have won.
Regardless, the City Dionysia was re-worked around 508 to its final form:
"Around 508 Athenian democracy was created and, in order to break up the family loyalties which had been at the root of past rivalries, all the inhabitants of Attica were divided into ten tribes. It may have been out of the desire to stimulate loyalty to the recently created tribes that about this time a new contest -- for dithyrambic performance -- was inaugurated at the City Dionysia. Each tribe, in competition with the other nine, presented two dithyrambs each year, one for men and one for boys. Around 501 reorganization of the City Dionysia added a contest for satyr plays. After this time, each dramatist was required to present three tragedies and a satyr play each time he entered the competition." (Brockett, 17)

WHAT WAS THE SCHEDULE?

DAY 1 
- PROAGON: The poets stood with actors (unmasked) and announced the subject of his 3 plays.
- "BRINGING IN": The wooden image of Dionysus was taken to the edge of the city, sacrifices were made, and then the image was brought back into the city on a ship-chariot in a torch-light procession. The priests of Dionysus would then have a private ceremony when they'd sacrifice a he-goat (tragos).
- PROCESSION: Political leaders proceeded with the arkhon or chief of the festival. One man carried in the sacred fire, others carried phallic symbols (fertility ritual), and others carried wine, food, etc. There were choral performances along the way. Then a bull would be sacrificed to Dionysus, and crowd would celebrate Dionysus by feasting on beef and drinking his wine. 
- COMOS: The reveling would continue with men playing reed-pipes and harps and singing and dancing around the city.

DAY 2-5
- 5 comedies
- 9 tragedies (3 by each writer)
- 3 satyr plays
While they watched the plays, wine was poured and food was shared or sold.
At the end of the festival, the 10 judges (chosen by lots) announced the winner and an ivy-crown was placed on his head.
Then, each chorus leader threw a banquet for his chorus.

Who ran the festival?

The arkhon or chief supervised the procession and contests. But the choregi or chorus leaders were, like producers, in charge of the management of the shows. The writer would serve as director/choreographer (and often actor).

Who performed in the shows?

Chorus members were young men -- chosen because they were in top shape and coordinated. They practiced for an entire year and were revered as athletes.

Pages by Mrs. D

"One of the most admirable things about history is, that almost as a rule, we get as much information out of what it does not say as we get out of what it does say. . . . History is a frog; half of it is submerged, but he knows it is there, and he knows the shape of it."

"The Secret History of Eddypus", Mark Twain