What Is Pinakes in Greek Theatre?

Greek Theatre|Theater

Pinakes, or Pinax, is a term used in Greek theatre to refer to the large painted tablets used to tell the story of a play. It was a visual aid for the actors and audience, as well as a way for the playwright to show the structure of the play.

The pinakes were divided into two halves: one half was a narrative of what happened onstage; and the other half was a scene-by-scene breakdown of the action.

The pinakes were usually made of wood and painted with tempera paint. Each one would be divided into two sections: one depicting scenes from the play, and one depicting characters in those scenes. The characters would be represented by symbols such as masks, animals or gods, while scene-by-scene descriptions would be given below each symbol.

The pinakes were not only used to help with acting and understanding during performances but also served as records for future production teams. They would be kept in temples dedicated to Dionysus, where actors could consult them when preparing for upcoming performances.

The use of pinakes eventually spread beyond Greece and Rome, becoming popular among Christian churches in Europe. In these churches, they served as visual aids for sermons or religious teachings. Pinakes can still be found today in many churches around Europe.

Conclusion:

What Is Pinakes in Greek Theatre? Pinakes (or Pinax) is an ancient term used in Greek theatre to refer to large painted tablets which were used to tell stories and depict scenes within plays.

These tablets served both as visual aids for actors and audiences alike, providing them with detailed descriptions of characters and scenes; as well as being records that could be consulted by future production teams when preparing for upcoming performances. Pinakes have since become popular amongst Christian churches throughout Europe where they are still present today as visual aids for sermons or religious teachings.