Explain how the origins of theatre in Athens are tied to both religion and politics.

             Theatre in Athens, Greece existed for about three hundred thirty years, from the time of five hundred fifty before the Common Era to two hundred twenty before the Common Era. There were three different kinds of dramatic genres that were popular in the Athenian theatre that were tragedy, comedy, and satyr play. The origins of theatre in Athens, however, relates to both religion and politics. The Athenian god, Dionysus, was said to be the god of the grape harvest and wine in Greek mythology. The most popular festival to honor this god was called “City Dionysia”, which was created about the time of five hundred and eight before the Common Era. In this celebration men preformed songs and there were even plays, which is where the theatre in Athens started. During other festivals, Greeks also sacrificed goats as an offering to Dionysus. The etymology of the word tragedy, which is one of the types of theatrical forms, is goat and hymn. And in the mythology of the god, Dionysus, goats were the priests. In politics, theatre was also used. Public satire was usually the greatest influence on the public’s opinion of the candidates. This type of satire just meant that it gained entertainment from politics. And one of the most common ways to achieve this public satire was by comic poets that preformed in theatres. Politics was just another component in the origin of theatres in Athens, Greece. Both religion and politics, however, are very important in making what Athenian theatre was back then.