Theater and Music

Music was very important to the Greeks they enjoyed it very much. Theater was often included at an after dinner. The most popular instruments were the lyre (hand held harp) and the double flute (pan pipes). The flute was considered the poor mans instrument but the lyre was considered the rich mans instrument. The ancient Greeks also used horns and drums. Drums were used on ritual occasions and were exotic to the ancient Greece. Horns were used for military purpose, not entertainment. Greeks invented the instruments we use today in our music. They also invented the octave (eight notes on the scale).

The theatre began as a way to honour the gods and goddesses. When you went to the theatre it was an important part of religious life of Ancient Greek. People enjoyed their theatre as much as we do. People called the theatre the famous theatre and Epidurals theatre had more than 14000 seats. This theatre was built so well that it had perfect acoustic. If a person was to sit in a seat farthest from the stage they could hear the actors as they whispered. The theatres were outside in the open air. Tires of seats were built around an open circular space called the orchestra.