Alexander and the theatre

[ruthaki]

Is there any record of which dramas Alexander favoured? I have read it was "The Myrmidons" by Euripides, but that may be pure speculation. Also, does that play, or fragments of it, still exist?

Thanks in advance.

[Taphoi]

Hi ruthaki,

The Myrmidons (Achilles' soldiers) is by Aeschylus. Only a dozen or so lines survive as far as I know. It is the first play of an Achilles trilogy, so Mary Renault's fiction in The Mask of Apollo that Alexander liked it is a reasonable inference. We know from Plutarch that Alexander read all three major tragedians: Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides. Their works were conveyed to Alexander by Harpalus. Alexander knew a lot of Euripides, much of it by heart, e.g. the Bacchae, Andromeda, Medeia, Andromache, Alcestis... Thessalus seems to have been a favorite tragic actor, undertaking a dangerous diplomatic mission on Alexander's behalf and performing at his wedding.

Best wishes,

Andrew

[ruthaki]

Thanks so much for clarifying this info for me. I was sure I was correct in my thinking about Alexander and the dramas but wanted to be sure. I'm just writing a scene in my novel where little Alexander (IV) meets Thetallos who has a cameo role in my novel but a rather important one. And even though I'm writing 'historical fiction', I like to get facts straight, or as correct as possible.

Perhaps you can clarify something else for me: A classical scholar friend of mine who is doing her doctorate on the Greek drama (mainly Aristophanes), claims that the theatre performances in Alexander's time weren't the same as in the days when the playwrights were living some time before. And that there likely wouldn't have been theatre performed in Pella, etc. Even though we know about Alexander's love of the dramas and that Euripides had lived for a time (and died) in Macedon. I have been to Pella several times but don't recall seeing the remains of a theatre there (perhaps not discovered? or missed by me?). I've see the one at Aigai a few times, and also the one at Dodona, though I'm not sure it is from Alexander's time or a bit later. No doubt if it was built later it may have been on the same site as the original? Does anyone know about this little detail? Much appreciated.

[Taphoi]

Hi ruthaki,

I'm not sure what your friend's getting at, but I'm no expert on Greek theatre. There was a general trend over the 6th to the 4th centuries for theatre to move from being a religious rite towards entertainment. If your friend is studying Aristophanes (Old Comedy), she may be referring to the evolution into Middle Comedy and New Comedy. Alexander lived between the Middle and New Comedies. One of the greatest comedians, Menander (New Comedy), wrote after Alexander, so your friend's comments are a bit strange?! Theatre (especially Tragedy) was a big thing in Alexander's day. Some of the most famous theatrical contests ever were held under his patronage - notably the contest in Phoenicia (according to Plutarch - Arrian places similar contests in Memphis) in 331BC when Athenodorus defeated Thessalus, which greatly disappointed Alexander. Perhaps you should read The Mask of Apollo (if you haven't already.)

Best wishes,

Andrew

[amyntoros]

A classical scholar friend of mine who is doing her doctorate on the Greek drama (mainly Aristophanes), claims that the theatre performances in Alexander's time weren't the same as in the days when the playwrights were living some time before. And that there likely wouldn't have been theatre performed in Pella, etc.

I was going to ask why your friend thinks that there wouldn't have been a theatre in Pella; after all, Philip had had one built at Philippi. Then I discovered a very old (1965!) Time article today which says that the head archaeologist of the then Pella dig, " believes that both the royal palace and Pella's theater are buried under a hill on which the modern village stands. But diggings there will have to wait; the job would probably require the relocation of all 2,500 villagers."

He might have been right about the theatre, and, assuming that they never did relocate the village, this might explain why one has not yet been found.

Best regards,

[smittysmitty]

Ruthaki, your friend may have been refering to the fact that at the time of these earlier poets writing such plays were performed in theatres that were only temporaray structures. Once festivals were over, the theatres were dismantled and put away till the next festival.



I think that's what she may be alluding too - hard to say really without knowing her exact words.


cheers!

[ruthaki]

Thanks for your comments. I've been to Pella a number of times. Nowadays they are excavating the palace on the little knoll just back of the city site. I didn't recall seeing the remains of a theatre there but suspected there must have been one. After all, there was one at Aigai (where Philip was killed). And yes, I disagree with what my friend said, though perhaps she misunderstood my questions as she is quite knowledgeable. She mainly studies Aristophanes though.

(yes, I've seen the theatre at Philippi as well as the one at Dodona. Theatre was big in those days! Nice to see them using the old sites for today's performances too. I've been lucky enough to attend a few myself.