Great Dionysia

Great Dionysia, ancient dramatic festival in which tragedy, comedy, and satyric drama originated; it was held in Athens in March in honour of Dionysus, the god of wine. Tragedy of some form, probably chiefly the chanting of choral lyrics, was introduced by the tyrant Peisistratus when he refounded the festival (534/531 bc), but the earliest tragedy that survives, Aeschylus’ Persai, dates from 472. The festivals were attended by all Athenian citizens (likely women as well...