The Origins of Theatre in Ancient Eastern Civilizations

Abstract

Most researchers confidently attribute the origin of theatre to the Greek civilization. They consider the dramatic works of the three poets—Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides—as the first step in the birth of theatre on Greek soil. This view is supported by certain scholarly opinions and by the remarkable development of Greek literature compared to that of other civilizations. However, is it reasonable to assume that these civilizations, despite their advancement, were unfamiliar with theatrical art? If they did know it, to what extent did it develop? Why did it not achieve the same fame as its Greek counterpart? And what factors enabled Greek literature to reach such a high level of refinement?

There is no doubt that ancient Eastern civilizations produced their own literature, which preserved their achievements and reflected their cultures. They also sought to develop it according to the nature of their literary experiences. This research aims to highlight the contribution of some ancient Eastern civilizations to providing the earliest seeds of theatre and giving it a local character, while acknowledging the efforts of the Greeks in advancing their literature and transforming it beyond the epic and lyric genres into the dramatic genre, with its two major forms: tragedy and comedy.