The Performance Reception of Greek Tragedy in Ancient Theatres

Reconstructs the rich afterlife of Greek tragedy on ancient stages across the entire Mediterranean area, from the fourth century BC to the early third century AD. Draws on an extensive collection of documentary, literary and visual sources and considers the role of actors and audiences in the plays' survival.

Greek tragedy enjoyed a rich afterlife on ancient stages. This book reconstructs that history across the entire Mediterranean area, from the fourth century BC to the early third century AD. It is based on an extensive collection of primary sources ranging from inscriptions and festival catalogues to literary records, tragedy-related vases from fourth-century Sicily and South Italy, and the Greek models of Roman Republican tragedies, with each one placed in its historical context. Sebastiana Nervegna identifies the Greek tragedies that formed the ancient theatrical repertoire, assesses how actors contributed to their survival and considers how public audiences continued to enjoy the theatrical masterpieces of Classical Athens. This is the first work entirely dedicated to the circulation of Greek tragedies among the larger public throughout antiquity.