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Purification or purgation of emotions (especially pity and fear) through art; A key concept in Aristotelian dramatic theory; Thought to be achieved through experiencing tragedy

Known for presenting complex psychological characters; Used deus ex machina; Key works include 'Medea', 'The Bacchae', 'Hippolytus'

Excessive pride or self-confidence; Often leads to the downfall of the protagonist in tragedy; Seen as a flaw that invites retribution from the gods

Pioneer of New Comedy; Focused on romantic and domestic problems; Key works include 'Dyskolos' (The Grouch), 'The Girl from Samos'

Master of Old Comedy; His works criticized social, political, and cultural issues of Athens; Key works include 'Lysistrata', 'The Birds', 'The Clouds'

Introduced the third actor; Focused on the internal struggle of characters; Key works include 'Oedipus Rex', 'Antigone', and 'Electra'

Term for a tragic flaw or error in judgment; Leads to the hero's downfall in a tragedy; Integral to the plot of classical tragedies

A sudden reversal of fortune or change in circumstances; Often occurs in Greek tragedies; Can be the result of a character's critical discovery

Known as the father of tragedy; Enhanced the importance of the plot in drama; Key works include 'The Oresteia' trilogy

The moment of critical discovery or recognition by the protagonist; Shifts the hero from ignorance to knowledge; Often leads to the resolution of a tragedy

The second most important character in a Greek drama; Sometimes a supporter or adversary of the protagonist; Introduced by Aeschylus to add complexity to plays

A wheeled platform rolled out through a door in the skene; Used to display the aftermath of events that occurred off-stage; A method for revealing scenes of violence or death

Considered the first actor in Greek drama; Introduced the use of masks in theater; Sometimes referred to as the 'inventor of tragedy'

The circular space used by the chorus in front of the stage; Means 'dancing place' in Greek; Central performance area in ancient Greek theater

The third actor introduced to the stage, allowing even richer interactions; Sophocles is credited with adding this role; Provided more depth to storytelling and character dynamics

The traditional garment worn by actors in ancient Greek theatre; Tunic worn by men and women; Used costumes and masks to signify roles and status

Refers to fate or destiny as a driving force in Greek tragedies; Represents the predetermined course of events; Often personified as inescapable and binding

The main character in a drama, who often faces the central conflict; Word comes from Greek for 'first actor'; A role that originated in classical Greek tragedy

A form of tragicomedy featuring bawdy and irreverent humor; Included a chorus of satyrs; Performed alongside the more serious tragedies

The entrance song of the chorus upon their first appearance in a play; Also refers to the aisles on either side of the skene; Used by the chorus to enter and exit

A genre that blends elements of both tragedy and comedy; Often features a dark or serious storyline with a happy ending; Became popular in Roman times and Renaissance literature

The backdrop building directly behind the stage in ancient theaters; Provided a generic architectural background; Used for changing costumes and staging

Imitation or representation of reality in art; Central to Aristotle's definition of tragedy; Believed to be didactic

A crane-like device used in ancient Greek theater; Allowed gods to appear above the stage as if flying; Used for the dramatic device deus ex machina