A parodos (also parode and parodus; , 'entrance', plural ), in the theater of ancient Greece, is a side-entrance to the stage, or the first song that is sung by the

chorus Chorus may refer to: Music * Chorus (song), the part of a song that is repeated several times, usually after each verse * Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound * Chorus form, song in whic ...

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/ singers) or to the

orchestra An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families. There are typically four main sections of instruments: * String instruments, such as the violin, viola, cello, ...

(for the

) 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 long ramps located on either side of the stage, between the and the '' theatron'', or audience seating area. The term ('way in') is also used. Scholars note that was an older term for the passageway while ''parodos'' was widely used by writers from Aristotle onwards.

Entrance song of the chorus

''Parodos'' also refers to the ode sung by the chorus as it enters and occupies its place in the orchestra.

Aristotle Aristotle (; 384–322 BC) was an Ancient Greek philosophy, Ancient Greek philosopher and polymath. His writings cover a broad range of subjects spanning the natural sciences, philosophy, linguistics, economics, politics, psychology, a ...

defined it as "the first whole utterance of a chorus". Usually the first choral song of the drama, the parodos typically follows the play's

prologue A prologue or prolog (from Ancient Greek πρόλογος ''prólogos'', from πρό ''pró'', "before" and λόγος ''lógos'', "speech") is an opening to a story that establishes the context and gives background details, often some earlier st ...

. It is an important part as it defines the chorus, provides information about the plot, and assists or fights the protagonist. In Greek comedy, the parodos is considered the climactic moment. The parodos is highly commemorated in Athenian artifacts that show choral performance.

References

* Ancient Greek theatre {{theat-stub