Contributions of Aeschylus and Sophocles to Drama The most prestigious of the drama festivals held in Athens was the City Dionysia, held of a six-day period. Hundreds of visitors, dignitaries, and rural citizens crowded the city to see the spectacle. Aeschylus (524-456 B.C.) and Sophocles (496-406 B.C.), two playwrights of the era, held top honors at the festival for many years. Their contributions laid the foundation for modern drama as we know it …showed first 75 words of 667 total…

…showed last 75 words of 667 total…He added scenery, costumes, chorography and a second actor to the drama. Sophocles went even further by adding a third actor, making scenes more complex. His characters began representing things such as sorrow, foolishness, and regret. All of these things are the key ingredients to the creation of brilliant drama. Watch a television drama series today and compare it to Aeschylus’ or Sophocles’ work, their contribution to modern drama will become quite clear. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography**