The Age of Greek Tragedy In Athens, during the last thirty years of the 6th century BC, playwrights began to create the first drama in all of Europe, Greek tragedy (Sifakis , "Greek tragedy"). Although the movement's products are now seen as pieces of literature to be read, they began as theatrical pieces intended to be performed on stage. The tragedies mostly stemmed from stories about their gods, such as Hades, Zeus, and Nyx. In that time period, the tales of these immortals were passed down from generation to generation as history, not as fairy tales. The Greeks believed that the stories were those of their ancestors and revered them as much as people today revere the Bible or some other religious text. However, Dionysus is the god whose cult dominated the Greek tragic era (Sifakis, “Greek tragedy”). Dionysus was not only the god of wine but also of theater, so the Greeks tried to pay him special honor. The honor, however, did not last long throughout the era, and the plays quickly lost their Dionysian qualities shortly after the movement's birth (Sifakis, “Greek Tragedy”). Thespis was the first poet credited with writing a Greek tragedy, but the first performances of tragedies in the city Dionysia were recorded only about twenty-five years later (Sifakis, “Greek Tragedy”). The people's strong bond with their multitude of gods fueled the fire for the popularity of tragedies to grow. The Greek caste system was set in stone and their moral ethics were mostly universal in nature, as were their views on different sexes. The tragedies took these things and highlighted them in their plays, creating themes drawn from contemporary ideas that opposed the normal social and political views of the Greeks. …half of the card……sworn creature” (Euripides, Medea – Medea and other dramas, Line 1,324). Medea is probably the most controversial and complex female character of the Greek tragic era because she refuses to stay within the confines of ancient Greek social classes, suggesting that women may be found more capable than men. Works Cited Sifakis, GM "Greek Tragedy." Encyclopedia of death and dying. Advameg, Inc. 2011. Web. March 27, 2011. Euripides. Medea - Medea and other comedies. USA: Oxford University Press, 2009. Print.Euripides. Hippolytus – Medea and other comedies. USA: Oxford University Press, 2009. Print.Sophocles. Oedipus Rex – Three Theban dramas. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 2007. Print.MacLennan, Bruce. "Typical structure of a tragedy". Typical structure of a Greek work. University of Tennessee, Knoxville. September 4, 1999. Web. April 2. 2011.