Greek Tragedies and Pottery

An Ever-changing Perception

Abstract

This paper explores how Greek pottery from the fourth century reflects a historic perception of Greek tragedies that differs significantly from that of modern times. By analyzing Euripides’ Medea and Hippolytus, the study contends that the modern interpretation of these two tragedies is centered on the personality of tragic characters and the emotionality of the tragic plot. It is also evident that, by examining modern productions and adaptations of Euripides’ plays and relevant literary studies, the modern audience is particularly perceptive of the themes of sex, love, and marriage, which are often incorporated into discourses on contemporary issues. An investigation into the depiction of tragedies in classical pottery, however, highlights the significance of divinity in the historic understanding of the plays, reflecting the Athenian audience’s prioritized interest in religion. This paper thus argues that the thematic perception of Greek tragedies is ever-changing throughout ancient and modern times and is greatly influenced by the current of contemporary cultures. The paper also proposes that a theatrical emphasis on religion is conducive to forming a new modern perspective on Greek plays as well as social issues.