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The conventions of the day only allowed three actors with speaking roles to be used. The masks let them change roles with the most simplest and quickest of actions and allowed one part to be played by anyone. The masks were usually caricatures of famous people or extreme emotions e.g. an unnecessarily large smile, so they could also display who/what that character was supposed to be.

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16y ago

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Four purposes of masks in greek theatre?

The purpose of masks in Greek theatre was so that the audience could see the characters' faces from far away. The masks represented characters from history and mythology, who would be familiar to the audience.


Why were the masks made for greek theatre?

they were made so that the people in the very back could see their expressions


Why was The House of Masks important in Ancient Greece?

The so-called House of Masks in Delos was probably a boarding house for actors who performed in the theatre wearing the masks.


Who wore masks in greek theatre?

The men, as they were the only people allowed to be actors at the time. Intially at the birth of greek theatre there were only two characters, but that grew to three, with the addition of a chorus. The masks were used to help them project their voice to the back of the ampitheatre as well as the masks having expressions on them so they can be seen from the back too


Did Greek masks survive?

i think so


Why is the design of ancient Greek theatre so important?

It might be something to do with their god of harvest and wine


What are some similarities between Greek theatre and Elizabethan theatre?

round in structural formhad an orchestra and a skeneperformed during the day


What Greek masks like?

Greek masks are made out of wood, cork, mud and linen. They can look like anything. The Greeks made them very over the top so the audience could see clearly how they were meant to be feeling. They used very big lumps as eyebrows and noses. We are making Greek masks in history and it is really fun.


Why do mayans wear masks at ceremonies?

only the very important people wear the masks so the people think they are gods and the will respect them


Why did Greek actors wear masks during a performance?

Greek theatrical masks are used so men can pretend to be woman and so they can play several parts. They also used masks so the people at the back can see there face expressions. The uses of masks in ancient Greek theatre draw their origin from the ancient dionysiac culture. Thespis was the first writer, who used a mask. Usually the masks were made of linen, wood, or leather. A marble or stone face was used as a mould for the mask. Human or animal hair was also used. The eyes were fully drawn but in the place of the pupil of the eye was a small hole so that the actor could see. Some people claim that the masks had one more significance they added resonance to the voice of an actor so that everyone in the huge ancient theatre could hear him. The members of the chorus wore masks, usually similar to each other but completely different from the leading actors.


How do you know so much about ancient greek theatre?

The same way we know about all Greek culture, they had written documents, buildings, art, and so on.


What are facts about the theater?

A Roman theatre was very similar to a Greek theatre because the Romans were deeply influenced by the Greeks. They were semicircular with stone steps for the seating and the were open air. Unlike the Greeks, who aways built theatres on hillsides surrounded at the back and sides by it , the Romans also built theatres with their own foundations and away from hillsides. As for Roman theatre as a performing art, there were festival performances, dramas, tragedies, satires, situational comedies, street theatre, acrobatics and nude dances. Roman actors wore masks with exaggerated expressions so that they the audiences could see them better. The masks also enabled actors to perform several characters and to perform female characters. All actors were males. The use of masks was also borrowed from the Greeks.