AustLit

Author's note: While Athena was the foundational and patron deity of Athens, and the ancient city’s major festival was the Panathenaia, the civic celebration second in importance was the Great Dionysia – in honour of the god Dionysos, patron deity of theatre – the central events of which were the theatrical performances of dramatic tragedies and, from 487 BCE, comedies, in the Theatre of Dionysos at the foot of the Acropolis.