Saturday, June 10, 2017

THEATER FACES

Sad Samu & Happy Manu
Photo Credit: Nicolas Garcia
Drama Masks: Melpomene + Thalia
The two masks are associated with ancient Greek drama with the smiling and frowning faces. They are the Comedy and Tragedy masks that were worn in ancient Greece during the golden age, around 500-300 BC, and are paired together to show the two extremes of the human psyche.
The Comedy mask is known as Thalia, who in Greek mythology is the Muse of Comedy and Idyllic Poetry, portrayed as a happy, cheerful young woman crowned with ivy.
The Tragedy mask is known as Melpomene, who si the Muse of Tragedy. Melpomene is depicted with the tragedy mask in one hand, and a knife or a club in the other.

The two masks are now used as the symbol for theater, in memory of its origins in ancient Greece.

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