Culture

Greek Tragedy masks were important in theatrical performances but why were Greek Tragedy masks so important in Greek culture?  

The use of Greek Tragedy masks in plays, and basically theatrical culture flourished in ancient Greece more than any other country. Greek Tragedy masks involvement in plays were extremely essential as the Greek tragedy masks formed most of theatre performances as Greek Tragedy masks allowed any amount of actors to perform the same role, it prevented the audience from identifying the actor with the role (since the mask was covering the face), it often bore exaggerated expressions, instantly conveying the mood, background and function of the character, the Greek Tragedy mask was also designed in a manner were when the actor spoke the audience sitting in the distant seats could hear him. Greek tragedy masks also formed most of theatre performances because the actors in the performances could be seen by audience members in distant seats and because the Greek Tragedy Masks helped the audience understand the storyline and what was happening better, therefore the performance would have a greater impact on the audience by taking them from the real world to a fictional world, which at times were good since it would give some Greeks a break from their difficult lives. This was one the main reasons why Greeks liked theatre performances so much.

Since live theatre performances were loved by greeks because of the use of not only Greek Tragedy masks but other masks as well ( Greek Comedy mask and Greek Satyr mask). Theatre performances became a big thing in Greece, but it didn't become a big thing only because people loved it. It also became a big thing because the greek wanted to honor the Greek God Dionysos since he was the god of wine, vegetation, pleasure and arts.

The greeks honored Dionysos, showed their love of theatre and the uses of masks in theatre performances by ensuring every town had every type of mask and a open air theatre. They also ensured that there were competitions between towns , and the winner (who had the best play or theatrical performance) would get almost the same respect as a todays olympic gold medalist . The greeks also honored Dionysos, showed their love of theatre and the uses of masks in theatre performances with a festival called "City Dionysia". In this festival men used to sing songs, and different theatrical performances would be held by different towns all over Greece.

So overall this is why Tragedy masks, and other types of mask were important in Greek culture because they made theatrical performances brilliant,  and this lead to festivals, and other things to honor the art of theatre, and the creation of it. So this is the type of culture the Greek Tragedy Mask came from.