Thespis

Thespis

Thespis of Icaria (present-day Icaria) (6th century BC) is claimed to be the first person ever to appear on stage as an actor in a play, although the reality is undoubtedly more complex. In other sources, he is said to have introduced the first actor in addition to the chorus. [cf. "Theatre of the Greeks" by P.W. Buckham]

According to Aristotle, writing nearly two centuries later, Thespis was a singer of dithyrambs (songs about stories from mythology with choric refrains). Thespis supposedly introduced a new style in which one singer or actor performed the words of individual characters in the stories, distinguishing between the characters with the aid of different masks.

This new style was called tragedy, and Thespis was the most popular exponent of it. Eventually, in 534 BC, competitions to find the best tragedy were instituted at the City Dionysia in Athens, and Thespis won the first documented competition.

It is implied that Thespis invented acting in the Western world, and that prior to his performances, no one had ever assumed the resemblance of another person for the purpose of storytelling: In fact, Thespis is the first known actor in "written" plays. He may thus have had a substantial role in changing the way stories were said and inventing theater as we know it today. In reverence to Thespis, actors throughout western history have been referred to as thespians (cf. International Thespian Society).

It must be stressed, however, that there is very little concrete information about Thespis and the origins of Greek theatre, and all of the above may be more legend than reality.

In theatrical myth and superstition, Thespis is said to exist now as a mischievous spirit, and when things go wrong in performances it is often blamed on his ghostly intervention. Like many superstitions, this belief ranges in different cases from being considered a humorous legend to being taken very seriously, with various charms and rituals being employed to either invite his approval or defend against him.

ee also

*Phrynichus
*Aeschylus
*Sophocles
*Euripides
*Aristophanes
*Aristotle
*Dionysia

Bibliography

*Buckham, Philip Wentworth, "Theatre of the Greeks", 1827.
*Gaster, Theodor, H., "Thespis: Ritual, Myth, and Drama in the Ancient Near East", Henry Schuman Publishing, New York, 1950. ISBN 0877521882.


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  • Thespis — d’Icare (en grec : Θέσπις, né en 580) poète et dramaturge de la Grèce antique, est considéré comme le plus ancien tragique grec, et le premier acteur[1]. En 550 Thespis introduit en Attique un genre mi religieux, mi littéraire où se mêlent… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Thespis — (* 6. Jahrhundert v. Chr. in Ikaria, Attika) war einer der ersten griechischen Tragödiendichter, Theaterleiter und Schauspieler in Athen. Er galt bereits in der Antike als Erfinder des Dramas, speziell der Tragödie. Leben Bei den großen Dionysien …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • THESPIS — ex Icaria Atticae civitate, primus poeta Tragicus, et qui personas invenit. Floruit tempore Solonis, diog. Laert. vel Olymp. 61. secundum Suidam. Lil. Giraldus, in Hist. Poet. Horatius, ad Pisones, de Arte, v. 275. Ignotum Tragicae genus… …   Hofmann J. Lexicon universale

  • Thespis [1] — Thespis, griechischer Dichter aus Ikaria (Attika), nm die Mitte des 6. Jahrh. v. Chr. Er war der erste, welcher der Tragödie (s.d.) ihre dramatische Form gab, indem er an den Dionysien einen von dem Chor verschiedenen Schauspieler aufführte,… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Thespis [2] — Thespis (T. De C.), Pflanzengattung aus der Familie der Compositae Asteroideae; Arten: ostindische jährige Pflanzen …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Thespis — Thespis, aus Ikaria in Attika, um 536 v. Chr., galt den Griechen als Begründer der Tragödie, indem er dem dithyrambischen Chor einen Schauspieler hinzufügte. Der sprichwörtliche Thespiskarren für wandelnde Bühnen beruht vielleicht auf der irrigen …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Thespis — Thespis, ein Athener, führte 534 v. Chr. die erste Tragödie auf, indem er zu den alten Dionysischen Chören einen mit dem Chor redenden Schauspieler schuf, gilt deshalb als Begründer der Tragödie; soll seine Stücke von einem Wagen herab aufgeführt …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Thespis — Thespis, Athener um 540 v. Chr., von dem der Sage nach die rohen Anfänge der Tragödie ausgingen; seine wandernde Bühne soll ein Karren gewesen sein. Daher noch heute bildlich: am T. karren ziehen = Schauspieler sein …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • Thespis — [thes′pis] 6th cent. B.C.; Gr. poet: traditionally the originator of Gr. tragedy …   English World dictionary

  • Thespis — /thes pis/, n. fl. 6th century B.C., Greek poet. * * * flourished 6th century BC, Athens Greek poet, often considered the inventor of tragedy. He is the first recorded winner (с 534 BC) of a prize for tragedy at the Great Dionysia, a drama… …   Universalium

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