Moulding the Dramatic Traditions of Euboea

The Institute’s third event of 2020 will take place on Wednesday 4 March, starting at 7.30 pm in the in the library of the Institute (Dionysiou Aiginitou 7, ground floor, Ilisia. Metro: Megaro Moussikis). Justin S. Dwyer (Neda and Franz Leipen Fellow, the Canadian Institute in Greece; Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Classical, Near Eastern, and Religious Studies, University of British Columbia) will give a lecture entitled, “Moulding the Dramatic Traditions of Euboea: A Study of Theatrical Figurines and Local Performance Culture”.

 “Euboea produced some of Greek drama’s most renowned figures (e.g. Apollodorus of Carystus, Lycophron of Chalcis, Achaeus of Eretria); however, we know very little about the local dramatic traditions that shaped their poetry. To better understand this important alternative to Athenian drama, this talk seeks to build a diachronic model of the Euboean dramatic tradition. Since no Euboean dramatic texts survive, an interdisciplinary study of the relevant material record provides a basis for this study. Enhanced by consideration of the epigraphic record and the Hellenistic phases of the theatre at Eretria, the analysis focuses primarily on small-scale terracotta sculpture and considers both figurines and masks from collections in Karystos, Eretria, Chalkis, and Athens. From this integrated survey, a distinct regional identity of Euboean theatre begins to emerge.”

You are all most welcome to join us next Wednesday for what promises to be a fascinating presentation.

Jonathan Tomlinson
Assistant Director