Into The Fens
It comes around every three years and has done since, 1882 when they choose Sophocles to be the first tragedian that was acted out for the audience and his play, Ajax. There followed, in triennial periods now, the now named Cambridge Greek Play. To think it has lasted just over 125 years is quite impressive in itself, especially when in 1890, the Daily Chronicle stated that 'Greek Plays are a fashion not likely to last'.
Yet it has and now flourishes and provides acting talent to the world, most recently; Loki actor Tom Hiddlestone, who played Orestes, in the 2001 Sophocles Electra. These are most talented folk. The Prometheus bound (The Tragedy) was as powerful and as searing as you would expect when you are talking about the god who provided skills to man in defiance of Zeus. Prometheus; the fire bringer, now chained to the rocks and being tortured for betraying the olympian gods and withholding the name of the love interest that should Zeus lie with, then their child will overthrow Zeus' rule, like he overthrew his fathers rule.
The interesting aspect to this Greek Mythological story is the name of the women; Thetis. As all followers of the Homeric stories know, Thetis was the mother of Achilles (strongest an great of all Greek warriors; as portrayed by Brad Pitt in one instance). The reason she was married to Peleus (father of Achilles), was that Zeus was terrified of this prophecy (and whose female identity was ultimately revealed by Prometheus, when the two became reconciled), and married the nymph off to a Greek king and Achilles was born, half human and half divine.
A fully divine Achilles would have had the ability and strength to overthrow the Olympian Lord Zeus and become king of the gods himself. This is quite a thought when you are reading the iliad and have this parallel world scenerio in your head at the time and in another world, Achilles would be marching against Olympus, not Troy.
Yet it has and now flourishes and provides acting talent to the world, most recently; Loki actor Tom Hiddlestone, who played Orestes, in the 2001 Sophocles Electra. These are most talented folk. The Prometheus bound (The Tragedy) was as powerful and as searing as you would expect when you are talking about the god who provided skills to man in defiance of Zeus. Prometheus; the fire bringer, now chained to the rocks and being tortured for betraying the olympian gods and withholding the name of the love interest that should Zeus lie with, then their child will overthrow Zeus' rule, like he overthrew his fathers rule.
The interesting aspect to this Greek Mythological story is the name of the women; Thetis. As all followers of the Homeric stories know, Thetis was the mother of Achilles (strongest an great of all Greek warriors; as portrayed by Brad Pitt in one instance). The reason she was married to Peleus (father of Achilles), was that Zeus was terrified of this prophecy (and whose female identity was ultimately revealed by Prometheus, when the two became reconciled), and married the nymph off to a Greek king and Achilles was born, half human and half divine.
A fully divine Achilles would have had the ability and strength to overthrow the Olympian Lord Zeus and become king of the gods himself. This is quite a thought when you are reading the iliad and have this parallel world scenerio in your head at the time and in another world, Achilles would be marching against Olympus, not Troy.
The attraction of Greek tragedy is the attraction of the Greek mythology, we all to some extent are still a part of. It lies in our cultural DNA. As it was once said, we are of the Greeks. Although this link is fading with the passing of time, indeed, it's only 70 or so years since entrance to university required a qualification/knowledge of the ancient Greek language to get to a university. our society, still links in places back to the world of Aeschylus, Euripides and Sophocles.
There exploration of human nature, was perhaps only equalled after 2000 yrs with the works of shakespeare. They stand that eminent in the tragic firmament. This is why cultural events such as the Cambridge Greek play will probably outlast my generation and hopefully my own children's.
Comments