The term "theaters of Dionysus" is a loose one, seeing as all theaters were considered temples for Dionysus. Further, the act of going to the theater was a form of worshiping Dionysus. We focused on the theaters of Dionysus in Athens and in Epidauros.
I think that the Athenians' worship of Dionysus's values of letting oneself be "free," and blurring boundaries may be part of what allowed the Athenians to think about themselves in a way that was unique at the time. During the time that these theaters were prominent, and a common form of entertainment and worship, the Athenians were developing a new form of self-conception, and I think that the theaters of Dionysus are a great example of a part of their lifestyle that allowed them to do that.
The Theater of Dionysus in Athens
This theater lies on the south slope of the Acropolis. It had to be reconstructed many times, and the remains that we see today are actually from a period later than the Periclean, which is when the temples on the Acropolis were built. Though the theater was destroyed many times, the Athenians continued to rebuild it, showing their devotion to Dionysus and all she
stood for. The theater was a place for
Athenians to truly let go: to have fun and dance and drink and socialize and just enjoy themselves. No wonder they wanted
to keep rebuilding it!
While not a part of the theater, the ruins of the first temple on the Acropolis are most easily seen from the theater on the slope of the Acropolis. This temple was burned by the Persians; when the Athenians went to rebuild the Acropolis, rather than removing the ruins and starting from scratch, they built on top of them. The ruins acted as a reminder to the Athenians of the Persians' crimes against them; this parallels later after the Athenians had beat the Persians at the Battle of Marathon and Darius has a servant tell him every single day to "remember the Athenians." While many may seek to forget their losses, during these times the Greeks and Persians seemed to find strength and inspiration in remembering their defeats.
The Ancient Theater of Epidauros
This theater is a sanctuary to Asclepius, the god of healing and medicine. The theater is part of a complex, which includes a stadium and a hotel, amongst other things. I find it very interesting that the theater played such a large role in healing for the Athenians, while the two are completely separate today. Many consider the Sanctuary of Asclepius to be the birthplace of modern medicine, and people would travel from all over Greece to heal here in its heyday. The sanctuary was home to many healing practices over the years: when it first opened, a patient's treatment was determined by a dream that they had in a special ritual, it is said that priests later used herbs and other remedies as treatments.
Another beautiful component of the Sanctuary of Asclepius is the votive offerings that many of the "patients" left after they had healed. The votives often depicted the body part that was being healed. I found these votive offerings very moving! It's interesting how art, in this case, sculpting, was so ingrained in the Athenian culture. When we consider the fact that contemporarily, doctors can expect a simple conversation (maybe a note) of thanks, the fact that the Athenians used their gratitude to inspire art is really amazing.
I found the figure of Asclepius interesting because of his calm expression. Asclepius represents healing, so those who sought him and his sanctuaries out were often hurting one way or another. The idea of Asclepius being a very calming presence as a god is very fitting for what he stood for. I also continue to be amazed by the intricate details, like the curls in his hair and beard, that sculptors are able to portray in marble.
Reflection
While the theater has not played a significant role in my life, I can appreciate the Greeks' love for their interactive entertainment! What particularly struck me about these sites was that the theaters used to be so multipurpose; not only was the theater a place for plays and entertainment, but it was part of a hospital of sorts and it was a place to heal. I was especially surprised by the fact that theaters used to be so interactive and every show festival-like, with people dancing in the orchestra section. As an admittedly uptight introvert, I can say that I truly prefer today's version of the theater, where I can stay comfortably in my seat! However, I do think that Dionysus's values of letting oneself be "free," and blurring boundaries may be part of what allowed the Athenians to think about themselves in a way that was unique at the time. The Athenians developed a new concept of self-conception during this period, and I think that the theaters of Dionysus might be a great example of a part of their lifestyle that led them to their new views.
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