Στην παρούσα εργασία στόχος μας είναι να προσεγγίσουμε το μύθο του Φιλοκτήτη στη δραματική μορφή του. Για το σκοπό αυτό θα αξιοποιήσουμε κατά το δυνατόν τις μαρτυρίες αναφορικά με την επική παράδοση, όπως μας σώζονται από πολύ μεταγενέστερες πηγές. Η σχέση ανάμεσα στο έπος και το δράμα είναι πολυεπίπεδη και πολύσημη· ανάμεσα σ’ αυτά τα δύο διακριτά είδη, που λειτουργούν κάποιες φορές σαν συγκοινωνούντα δοχεία, υπάρχει ένα μαγνητικό πεδίο, μια κλίμακα αλληλεπίδρασης που κυμαίνεται από την έλξη ως την άπωση. / --

Οι Επτά επί Θήβας του Αισχύλου, σύμφωνα με όσα γνωρίζουμε, παρουσιάστηκαν για πρώτη φορά στην αρχαία Αθήνα το 467 π.Χ. και βραβεύτηκαν ως μέρος της τετραλογίας Λάϊος, Οιδίπους, Επτά επί Θήβας και του σατυρικού δράματος Σφιγξ, σε μια εποχή όπου η δημοκρατία έχει εγκαθιδρυθεί στην Αθήνα, αλλά έχουν αφήσει έντονα ίχνη σε αυτήν και την πολιτική της οι Περσικοί πόλεμοι. Στην εργασία αυτή θα επιχειρήσουμε να διερευνήσουμε και να αναδείξουμε τις σχέσεις της τραγωδίας των Επτά επί Θήβας με αποσπάσματα της προσωκρατικής σκέψης, ξεκινώντας από τα έπη του Ησιόδου, που οι μελετητές θεωρούν σημαντικά ως υπόστρωμα αυτού του έργου, και φτάνοντας μέχρι τον Πρωταγόρα, που η δράση του αρχίζει την εποχή που πρωτοπαρουσιάστηκε το έργο. Παρόλο που οι μελετητές δεν έχουν ασχοληθεί συχνά με αυτό το ζήτημα, φαίνεται να έχει ιδιαίτερη σημασία για την ερμηνεία αυτής της τραγωδίας, γι’ αυτό το λόγο θα επιμείνουμε σε αυτήν την έρευνα και θα προσπαθήσουμε να δείξουμε πώς ο Αισχύλος χρησιμοποιεί όχι μόνο τους διάφορους μύθους αλλά και φιλοσοφικούς στοχασμούς της εποχής του, για να τους μετουσιώσει σε θέατρο. / --

This thesis examines the theology of Aeschylus through a close text-based discussion of the nature and justice of Zeus. This will not be a dogmatic investigation that looks for signs of monotheism or 'proto-monotheism'. Rather, this thesis will examine the presentation of the god in Aeschylus, as he is found in his plays, free from any desire or attempt to form a rounded, comprehensive 'Aeschylean theology'. The first chapter considers the two closely connected divine terms, thetaepsilonozeta and deltaalphaiotamuonu. The clear-cut and easily discernible meaning of thetaepsilonozeta acts as a constant with which the more ambiguous and less determinable word deltaalphaiotamuonu can be compared and contrasted. This chapter discusses both those instances where deltaalphaiotamuonu seems to be synonymous with thetaepsilonozeta and where it does not, where the term seems to possess a meaning close to that of an individual's fortune or destiny in life. This is done in order to conclusively see how Aeschylus uses the word deltaalphaiotamuonu in the Eumenides as part of his characterisation of the Erinyes, which enables us to see more clearly what role divine terminology plays in the presentation of Zeus and the god's justice. The remaining chapters of this thesis examine Zeus in Aeschylus. First, attention is given to the old debates concerning the potential and respective influence of Homeric, Hesiodic and Presocratic conceptions of divinity on the theology of Aeschylus. Then, the final chapter of the thesis looks at the justice of Zeus primarily through a discussion of one question, whether we should understand Agamemnon as guilty in the eyes of Zeus, which it is argued we should not. It is shown that Aeschylus does not present an optimistic idea of Zeus or divine justice, and the god's rule is seen as neither kind nor benevolent. Rather a pragmatic and pessimistic view is presented to us by Aeschylus, one which recognises that Zeus is an all-powerful being in need of respect and honour and whose will must be carefully observed.

nÃo hà / Na GrÃcia Antiga, mitos como o de AgamÃmnon eram narrados em meios sociais e adaptados ao momento, no qual eram apresentados, possibilitando, assim, vÃrias versÃes de uma mesma narrativa. Acerca do mito de AgamÃmnon, o chefe dos gregos, restaram alguns textos escritos como: na poesia Ãpica, IlÃada e Odisseia de Homero; no poema lÃrico, PÃtica XI de PÃndaro; nas tragÃdias, Oresteia de Ãsquilo, no Ãjax e na Electra de SÃfocles, na HÃcuba, Troianas, AndrÃmaca, Electra, IfigÃnia em TÃuris, Orestes e IfigÃnia em Ãulis de EurÃpides; nos poemas Cantos CÃpriose Retornos do ciclo troiano; e em outras narrativas como a Biblioteca MitolÃgica de Apolodoro e a DescriÃÃo da GrÃcia de PausÃnias. Jà na literatura latina, encontram-se referÃncias ao mito de AgamÃmnon, no Egisto de LÃvio Andronico, na Clitemnestra de Ãcio, na Eneida, de VirgÃlio, nos poemas, A arte de Amar e Metamorfoses de OvÃdio e nas tragÃdias, AgamÃmnon, Troianas e Tiestes de SÃneca. Nessa pesquisa, mostrar-se-à como as obras mencionadas recontam o mito de AgamÃmnon e como Ãsquilo e SÃneca, ao escreverem as suas tragÃdias, ambas intituladas AgamÃmnon, apoderam-se dessa tradiÃÃo literÃria. Analisar-se-à as partes do mito que foram colhidas dessa tradiÃÃo pelos tragediÃgrafos e se tentarà mostrar algumas particularidades dos tragediÃgrafos influenciados por um contexto social, ao recontar esse mito, na tentativa de apresentar uma comparaÃÃo entre os textos quanto ao processo de recriaÃÃo mÃtica feito por Ãsquilo e SÃneca.

Greek tragedy portrayed the husband and wife relationship as fraught with hos¬tilities and ambivalences. The purpose of this mini-dissertation is to examine these dysfunctions, and to explain them. I have approached the problem from several important angles. I have begun with selected aspects of Athenian Mythol¬ogy and the foundation myths of Athenian culture to see whether there are recur¬rent themes that attest to inherent ambivalences and hostilities towards women within the mythological heritage of Athens. This approach is based on two as¬sumptions: first, that the dynamics of interpersonal relationships portrayed in mythology and literature tend to mirror the modal patterns of cultures and sec¬ond, the experiences of these modal patterns are the inspiration from which a culture draws its mythmaking. I then examine the context of the production of tragedy within the religious framework of the festival of the Greater Dionysia so as to establish a theory of the nature and function of Greek tragedy. The purpose of the second focus is to see whether there are connections between the workings of Greek tragedy and the thematic material it portrays. I have chosen four Greek tragedies within which to explore marital dysfunctions: Aeschylus’ Agamemnon, Sophocles’ Ajax and The Women of Trachis, and Euripides’ Medea. I have un¬der¬taken a close reading of the original texts and commentaries as well as a close reading of comparative translations of the texts for the purpose of this study. My explorations reveal that Athenian society was aware of the risks of the dire imbalance prevailing within their social order, which was created by such a fero¬cious suppression and derogation of half their members. In addition this imbal¬ance was redressed on a continual basis by the production of and through com¬munal participation in tragedy in its function as a ritualistic mechanism for ca¬thartic relief. Thus I conclude that the production of tragedy served to reaffirm the status quo. Tragedy provided a process for the de-structuring of familial and social order first and then sought and promoted a process of psychological restructuring and re-integration. This occurred through the empathetic workings of Catharsis or pur¬gation of negative emotions or feelings of guilt. The cathartic effects of tragedy were designed for men. As a collective therapeutic action it confirmed the male dominated order of society and reaffirmed the Athenian perception of a dualistic reality in the form of irreconcilable opposites: theatre versus life and female ver¬sus male. Tragedies were written by men and performed by men and thus we can expect all symptoms, signs and symbols of male and female conflict to be the products of the masculine psyche. / Prof. J.L.P. Wolmarans

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My thesis examines the evolution of Clytemnestra’s characterization throughout the generations of receptions of Aeschylus’ Agamemnon. This diachronic study investigates how Clytemnestra’s complex use of gender, specifically her use of masculinity, allows her character to be understood in a different light by a modern audience in contrast to the original perception of her character in antiquity. In analysing the aspects that contribute to Clytemnestra’s ancient characterization, which display her to be dangerously masculine to a fifth-century male audience, the meaning behind her behaviour is also revealed, as it opens a discussion on masculinity in Athens through Clytemnestra’s emasculation of the men around her. The true depth of her character is revealed through a study of Clytemnestra’s modern characterization, as modern audiences are able to recognize the sympathetic aspects of her character in the text, which are reflected through the various feminist adaptations and performances today. The paradox of Clytemnestra’s characterization demonstrates the impact that she has not only on the plot of the play, but also on its survival, as her complexity is what continues to engage audiences in modernity. The findings of this thesis will demonstrate the importance of female characters in Greek tragedy through examining the various layers of Clytemnestra’s character that are uncovered by comparing her characterization in antiquity and modernity, thus proving that her figure, and tragedy overall, has the ability to evolve and influence audiences yet to come through the impact of these dynamic women. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

A dramatic analysis and directorial reflection on Temple Theaters' production of Charles L. Mee's BIG LOVE, a modern rendering of Aeschylus' THE SUPPLIANT WOMEN. This thesis explores the entire process of directing the production, from research and text analysis, to visual collaboration and rendering, to casting and rehearsal, to tech and production. Ultimately, it is the author's intention to reveal a specific directorial perspective of BIG LOVE and the corresponding creative process utilized to render this interpretation. / Theater