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Theater of Dionysus in Athens

The festivals at which the great Greek tragedies were originally performed honored the god Dionysus.
Theater of Dionysus in Athens

Theater of Dionysus in Athens

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The viewing area of the Greek theater is called the theatron, whence our word "theater" (theatre). Theatron comes from a Greek word for viewing (the ceremonies). The Greek theaters also excelled in acoustics, so the people up high on the hill could hear the words spoken. Some ancient Greek theaters are still used for concerts because of their superior acoustics.

The Orchestra and Skene in the Greek Theater

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