The ancient Greek theatre was probably one of the most magnificent creations of the ancient world.  Athens, the political, scientific, and cultural centre of Greece, was flourishing with poets, philosophers, victories, and heroes. The last ones were probably the most popular in the theatre as far as war was the topic that was the most popular at those times.  War and art were the two areas that the ancient Greek theatre was meant to cover, and which it did successfully.

“In any case, tragedy did grow out of an improvisational beginning, both it and comedy, the former from those who led off the dithyramb, the other from those who led off the phallic performances” (Theatre of Ancient Greece). Until the Hellenistic period, all tragedies were exclusively written pieces, created in honor of Dionysus, the Greek God of wine. In essence, tragedy can be defined as any event with a depressing and unfortunate ending, characterized by seriousness and self-respect and involving a heroic individual who experiences a turnaround of luck.  Comedy seems to have originated in vulgar and rude songs or recitations on the subject of fertility festivals or meetings, or also in making fun of other people or views of life. According to Aristotle “the origins of comedy are obscure because it was not treated seriously from its inception” (Theatre of Ancient Greece).

“In 465 BC, the playwrights began using a backdrop or scenic wall, which hung or stood behind the orchestra, which also served as an area where actors could change their costumes” (Theatre of Ancient Greece).  This innovation was knows as ‘skene’ or, what we call it today, scene. The theatres were initially constructed on a very large scale to lounge the large number of people on stage, as well as the huge number of spectators. Greek theatres had doorways for the actors and chorus members, as well, which were called ‘parodoi’. They were tall arches that opened onto the orchestra, by the means of which the performers walked in.

The death of a character of the play was always heard behind the scene as far as it was supposed unacceptable to show violent acts on the stage. Later, it formed the word ‘obscene’ which came from the Greek ‘behind the scene’.