Dionysus

Year: 
between 370 and 330 BC
Genres: 
Tragedy
Medium of performance: 
Fully Staged Play
Languages: 
Greek, Ancient (to 1453)
People involved: 
(Dramatist)
Venues and occasions: 
Production notes: 
The dates for Chaeremon's career are not certain. He is mentioned by Aristotle in his Rhetoric (3,12 = 1413b 8), and was clearly well-established as a tragedian by the time of the composition of that work. Chaeremon is also mentioned by other 4th-century tragedians: Eubulus (whose first victory was in 370 BC) and Ephippus (whose first victory was in 368 BC) - see TrGF1, 71 Chaeremon, T2 and T4, p. 216. Under these considerations, a 40-year period, starting in 370 BC, is offered here as the date range for Chaeremon's career and for the possible period of performance of these plays. It should be noted that it is not certain that these tragedies were performed, since the reference in Aristotle (Rhetoric 3,12 = 1413b 8) says that Chaeremon's tragedies were meant to be read. This comment, however, does not exclude the possibilty that they were also performed. Certainly, we know from an inscription in Tegea that his Achilles was performed, by an anonymous actor, in the 3rd century BC (IG V 2, 118 = TrGF1, DID B 11, p.41; Stephanis 3003). It is assumed here that the premieres of Chaeremon's tragedies were performed in Athens. The Dionysus is listed as one of Chaeremon's tragedies in the entry in the Suda, and we also have some fragments of it.

How to cite this ancient performance

Dionysus, accessed at http://www.apgrd.ox.ac.uk/ancient-performance/performance/410 <29 March 2024>