Hellenistic Tragedy: Texts, Translations and a Critical Survey

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Description

Ancient Greek tragedy is ubiquitously studied and researched, but is generally considered to have ended, as it began, in the fifth century BC. However, plays continued to be written and staged in the Greek world for centuries, enjoying a period of unprecedented popularity and changing significantly from the better known Classical drama. Hellenistic drama also heavily influenced the birth of Roman tragedy and the development of other theatrical forms and literature (including comedies, mime and Greek romance). Hellenistic Tragedy: Texts, Translations and a Critical Survey offers a comprehensive picture of tragedy and the satyr play from the fourth century BCE. The surviving fragments of this dramatic genre are presented, alongside English translations and critical analysis, as well as a survey of the main writers involved and an exploration of the genre's formation, later influence and staging. Key features of the plays are analysed through extant texts and other evidence, including plots based on contemporary political themes, mythical subjects and Biblical themes, and features of metre and language. Practical elements of Hellenistic performance are also discussed, including those which have become the hallmarks of ancient theatre: actors' costumes of long robes, kothurnoi and high onkos-masks, the theatre building and the closed stage on the logeion. Piecing together a synthetic picture of Hellenistic tragedy and the satyr play, the volume also examines the key points of departure from earlier drama, including the mass audience, the mutual influence of Greek and Eastern traditions and the changes inside the genre which prove Hellenistic drama was an important stage in the development of the European theatre.

Reviews

The study delivers what it promises, a careful collection of the relevant texts, a descriptive overview of the nature of Hellenistic tragedy, and a summary of the stage conventions of the Hellenistic period, especially their differences from the Classical period ... Kotlinska-Toma's work makes a valuable contribution to a generally underserved segment of Greek literature ... Her translations of the fragments and testimonia, and her summaries of critical trends promise to make this period of ancient drama accessible to a wider audience. -- Paul Ojennus, Whitworth University * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *
The book performs an undeniably important service in bringing together, drawing attention to, and elucidating the exiguous but fascinating remains of these dramas ... A useful, accessible and wide-ranging survey. * GNOMON *
One of the greatest merits of this book is the presentation of the fragments of Hellenistic tragedies alongside proposed English translations ... A thorough and high-quality investigation ... which we can only praise. * CADMO (Bloomsbury translation) *
Undoubtedly a useful book. * Eos *
A useful work of reference ... an informative read for teachers and for university students. I felt I had learned a lot. * John Taylor, Journal of Classics Teaching *
This is the first comprehensive survey of Greek tragedy and satyr play of the Alexandrian period, written by a scholar of formidable accomplishments. It should be of considerable interest both to Classicists and historians of the theater. * Dana F. Sutton, Professor Emeritus in Classics, School of Humanities, University of California at Irvine, USA *
Hellenistic Tragedy: Texts, Translations and a Critical Survey fills a longstanding gap in scholarship on post-classical tragedy. Its lively thematic essays and extended commentaries make this an indispensable volume for anyone interested in the history of Greek theater or in Hellenistic literary culture more generally. * Johanna M. Hanink, Robert Gale Noyes Assistant Professor of Humanities, Department of Classics, Brown University, USA *
Agnieszka Kotlinska-Toma's Hellenistic Tragedy is a comprehensive, detailed and insightful exploration of a fascinating and yet relatively unknown period of Greek tragic production. This admirable survey of authors, texts and contexts will be an indispensable resource for classicists as well as for all those interested in theatre history and Hellenistic culture. * Andreas Fountoulakis, Assistant Professor of Greek Literature and Drama, University of Crete, Greece *

Author Bio

Agnieszka Kotlinska-Toma is Assistant Professor at the Institute of Classical, Mediterranean and Oriental Studies, University of Wroclaw, Poland.