POLIS 
Throughout the history of human kind, one single
society has managed to constitute the finest example of people's
participation in political life and decision-making. This was Athens and
this phenomenon lasted for nearly seven decades, between the Medeas and
the Peloponnesian War.
The democratic city was formed when, on the one hand, the Athenian superiority was still young and the citizens remained faithful to the old traditions and when, on the other hand, the glory of the city spread from the Black Sea to Egypt and later on to the West. It is most likely that it was the Peisistratides who instituted the Greater or City Dionysia, supported the public celebrations and enriched them with music and cheerful processions. In 534/5 B.C. a contest in tragedy was organised for the first time but the structure that the Attic tragedy acquired during the 5th century B.C., differs from all its predecessors. At the time of Pericles, the programme of the celebrations was very elaborate while performances, symposia and processions were instituted. Meanwhile, all the big monuments of Athens were constructed following a colossal building project.
At the beginning of spring during the month of Elaphibolionas, the Greater or City Dionysia were held. This time of the year, that is spring, was chosen in order to facilitate the organisation of the festival, as agricultural activities were just beginning, travelling and commercial activities were much easier whilst, in case there was a war, the hostilities were not open yet. A large number of people used to visit Athens and the allied cities came to pay their duties. The City Dionysia included a grandiose procession, sacrifices and transportation of the cult wooden statue of Dionysus from Eleftheres to the god's temple on the south side of the Acropolis. From 508 B.C., on the 8th or 9th of Elaphibolionas, dithyramboi were also presented during the City Dionysia. Five from the ten tribes (phyles) presented a male chorus and the remainder five a children chorus of fifty members. The chorus danced in a circular manner around the altar in the middle of the orchestra (dancing floor) to the accompaniment of a flute. In the next days, the tragic performances were held. The first three days were devoted to tragedies whilst the fourth to comedies. During the hard years of the Peloponnesian War, the dramatic contests were confined to three days. Moreover, just before such performance, a sacrifice of a pig was heId in the theatre. The duties paid by the allies were presented in the orchestra, split in talents - the ancient currency - so that the spectators could realise both the material profits and the power of Athens. The ephiboi (adolescents) - war orphans who had just reached their majority - were escorted to the theatre by an official procession and were seated in honourable places after having been offered their ornament by the City.
The ephiboi were fully accepted by the circles of the active
citizens and this public honour, attributed by the city, crowned its
image of power. In addition, the day of the dramatic contests the
prisoners were released on bail.
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