Culture of Athens (Topic 1): Sources

Aristotle (Constitution of the Athenians)

• When an Archon started their year in office, their second act was appoint choregoi.
• The three richest Athenians were chosen as choregoi.
• In the 5th Century, 3 choregoi were chosen for the tragedies, and 5 choregoi were chosen for the comedies (1 choregos perb playwright), although this later changed to simply 3 choregoi.
• According to Aristotle, choregoi were in charge of training the boys and men, as well as funding the productions.
• A choregos could challenge their nomination if:

1. There was somebody richer than them who could perform the role (the wealthier of the two would either have to take on the role or exchange property with the appointed choregos).

2. They were below the required age of 40.

3. They had already recently contributed towards the state.

Aristotle (Constitution of the Athenians)

• The Eponymous Archon was in charge of The City Dionysia, including the procession.
• The Archon was overseen by 10 people, who each payed towards the cost of the procession.
• After the 5th Century, the 10 people were selected by lot (1 person from each tribe), and 10,000 dr. was given to  them to pay for the expense.

Scholion (...to Aristophanes, 'Acharnians')

• Female maidens from Aristocratic families carried golden baskets during the procession, in which the first fruits would be placed.

Souda (s.v. askophanein)

• During the process for the Dionysia, cititizens and metics had different roles.
• Metics wore purple gowns and were 'basin-bearers'.
• Citizens wore what they liked and were 'wineskin-bearers'.

Scholiast (...on Aeschines against Ktesipion)

• Mentions a contest between the tragic playwrights (might be referring to the competion itself)
• The playwrights announced their plays and introduced their actors, who appeared without costumes or masks.

Demosthenes (...against Medias - Quoting Law)

• Prisoners were released so that they could attend the festival.
• This law also applied to other festivals such as The Lenaia and Thargelia.
• It seems that public business and legal disputes were kept to a minimum during the festival.

Aeschines (...against Ktesiphon)

• Orphans of fallen soldiers were publicly paradided as part of the proagon.
• These young men had come of age, and were dressed in full armour which had been paid for by the state.
• A public proclaimation was made which recognised the states role in raising them in the absence of their fathers.
• It was also recognised that the arms awarded to them were a gift from the state awarding their fathers for their bravery, and also as a token of their new life as men.
• The state also invited the orphans to take front-row seats in the theatre, in honour of their fathers contributions to the state.

Isokarates 17 (trapezitikos)

• The names of the judges who were chosen by lot were kept in jars sealed by the choregoi. They were then guarded by the treasurers at the Acropolis in order to keep the identities of the judges a secret.
• To open the jars was deemed a grave crime.

Plato (Laws)

• The judges were meant to select their winners according to merit, and not as a result of the plays' popularity with the audience.
• The judges swore an oath to the gods to ensure that they made a just decision.
• The judges were considered teachers.

Athenaieus

• Audience members drank and ate breakfast before going to the theatre.
• They wore garlands on their heads during the performances.
• They drank wine and ate during the performances (this is also mentioned by the comic poet, Pherecrates).
• The fruit they ate could also be used to pelt bad actors.