The tragedy and comedy masks are usually called “Thalia and Melpomene” or “Sock and Buskin”. Although the words come from Greek drama, it’s a modern invention to use them as names for the theater masks — the ancient … See more

Ancient Greek actors wore masks in the theater because it was a cultural tradition. The first plays evolved from the rituals worshipping the god Dionysos. Since these rituals involved masks, it was only natural that the firs… See more

There are no surviving Greek theater masks. That’s because each mask was made from materials like stiffened linen, wood, and leather; these materials degrade quickly, so they’re lost to the centuries. See more

The comedy and tragedy masks originate in ancient Greek theaters. Instead of wearing stage makeup, like we do today, actors wore a different mask for every type of character. If you were attending a tragic play in Ath… See more