Summaries

A short documentary about the theatrical performance of Aeschylus' "Prometheus Bound", which was presented at the Delphic Festivals. The first record of Aggelos Sikelianos' efforts to present ancient Greek tragedy in an ancient theatre.

Prometheus, punished by Zeus, is chained to a mountain of Caucasus by god Hephaestus. There he starts to mourn for his tortures and narrate his story. Later, Io, with whom Zeus is in love, visits him, and he predicts the birth of a hero who will dethrone the king of the gods.[email protected]

At the Archaeological Site of Delphi, young people dressed in ancient clothes holding torches line up on the steps leading to the Ancient Theatre. Spectators wearing straw hats crowd the stairs. Inside the theatre, Angelos Sikelianos speaks to the audience, and then, Aeschylus' play, Prometheus Bound, commences. In the middle of the theatre, a towering rock dwarfs the protagonists, and God Hephaestus nails humankind's benefactor, Prometheus, down with the aid of the deities, State and Violence. The magnificent dance of the beautiful nymphs, Oceanids, starts to take place, and their superb close-ups prepare the ground for the arrival of Goddess Hera's mortal priestess, Io, who addresses Prometheus wearing a horned mask. Then, the ritualistic movements of the Oceanids mesmerise the audience once again, as God Hermes ascends the boulder of torture. In the end, the tragedy concludes with a climactic close-up of weary Prometheus, and a standing ovation by the ecstatic spectators.—Nick Riganas

Details

Keywords
  • greek mythology
  • tragedy
  • zeus the greek deity
  • based on greek myth
  • prometheus the greek minor deity
Genres
  • Drama
Release date Feb 6, 2025
Countries of origin Greece
Language None
Filming locations Delphi, Greece
Production companies Ancient Drama Organisation

Box office

Tech specs

Runtime
Color Black and White
Sound mix Silent
Aspect ratio 1.33 : 1

Synopsis

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