What is Theatre of ancient Greece?
[[File:Delphi Composite.jpg|thumb|300px|The Ancient Theatre of [[Delphi]]]] [[File:Ancient Greek theatre in Delos 01.jpg|280px|thumb|The Ancient Theatre in [[Delos]]]] [[File:Antalya Museum - Sarkophag 8a Maske.jpg|thumbnail|220px|Theatre mask: stone, 2nd century AD]] [[File:Hearst Greek Theatre (Berkeley, CA).JPG|thumbnail|230px|Reproduction of a Greek theatre: Hearst Greek Theatre, [[University of California, Berkeley]].]] [[File:Syracusa01(js).jpg|thumbnail|230px|The Greek Theatre at [[Syracuse, Italy|Syracuse]].]] [[File:3304 - Athens - Stoà of Attalus Museum - Theatre mask - Photo by Giovanni Dall'Orto, Nov 9 2009.jpg|thumbnail|200px|Greek [[terracotta]] mask, 3/4th century BC.]] The '''theatre of ancient Greece''' was at its best from 550 BC to 220 BC. It was the beginning of modern western theatre, and some ancient Greek plays are still performed today. They invented the [[genre]]s of [[tragedy]] (late 6th century <small>BC</small>), [[comedy]] (486 <small>BC</small>) and [[satyr play]]s. The [[Polis|city-state]] of [[Classical Athens|Athens]] was a great cultural, political and military power during this period. [[Drama]] was at its centre. Theatre was part of a [[festival]] called the [[Dionysia]], which honoured the god [[Dionysus]]. In the Dionysia, the playwrights presented their work to an audience. It was a competition, with a winner and prizes. These two main genres were never mixed: they each had their own typical structure. Athens exported the festival to its colonies and allies in order to promote its way of life. Only men were allowed as [[actor]]s. The chorus were men, as were the actors.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/Arts/Architec/AncientArchitectural/GreekArchitecture/GreekBuilding/Theater.htm#Audience |title=Fonseca, Reuben ''Ancient Greek Theater'' |access-date=2013-11-04 |archive-date=2008-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331054553/http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/Arts/Architec/AncientArchitectural/GreekArchitecture/GreekBuilding/Theater.