Parodos

A parodos (also parode and parodus; Ancient Greek: πάροδος, "entrance," plural parodoi), in the theater of ancient Greece, is a side-entrance to the stage, or the first song that is sung by the chorus at the beginning of a Greek tragedy.

Side-entrance to the theater

The parodos is a large passageway affording access either to the stage (for actors) or to the orchestra (for the chorus) of the ancient Greek theater. The parodoi can be distinguished from the entrances to the stage from the skene, or stage building, as the two parodoi are located on either side of the stage, between the skene and the theatron, or audience seating area. The term eisodos is also used.

Entrance song of the chorus

A "parodos" is also the ode sung by the chorus as it enters the orchestra. Usually the first choral song of the drama, the parodos typically follows the play's prologue.

References

• Leacroft, Richard; Leacroft, Helen (1988). Theatre and Playhouse: An Illustrated Survey of Theatre Building from Ancient Greece to the Present Day. London: Methuen. pp. 6. ISBN 0413529401. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |9= (help)