THESPIS: BIOGRAPHY OF THE FIRST ACTOR IN HISTORY - ARTE - 2025

Tespis or Tespiano was an actor, director and theatrical entrepreneur born in the 6th century in Ancient Greece. For his innovations, he is considered one of the fathers of theater and the first actor in history.

Not much information is known about the life of Thespis. The data on his trajectory have reached our days due to the references left about him by other authors, especially Aristotle. It is known, for example, that he was a priest in the temple of Dionysus and that he recited dithyrambs, a type of poetry common at the time.

Greek theater mask sculptures - Source: -DerHexer

Its popularity caused that it participated in the contest celebrated during the first Great Dionysiacs. According to the authors who speak about his life, Thespis was the winner, introducing the novelty that the protagonist, himself, established a dialogue with the choir.

Apart from this novelty, Thespis is also credited with having renewed the type of masks that were used in theatrical performances and being the first to found a company that toured the different Hellenic towns offering their works.

Biography

Thespis, also known as Thespidus, was born in Icaria, current Dionysios. The year of his birth is not known for sure, although it is known that he lived in the second half of the 6th century BC, between approximately 550 and 500 BC.

His fame comes from having been the creator of a new element in dramatic representations that have made him be considered one of the fathers of the theater.

Among the events that have been reflected on his life, related by later authors, stands out having won a prize in a contest held on the year 534 BC. C., during the holidays called Grandes Dionisíacas.

Dithyrambs

Thespis was known for the recitals of dithyrambs, a kind of poetry that related mythological stories. During these recitals, a choir was included that supported the soloist. Within this genre, Thespis introduced the novelty of using masks to distinguish the different characters that appeared in the work.

According to the chroniclers, this new style received the name of tragedy and Thespis became the most popular exponent of the genre.

The Great Dionysiacs

Dionysus was the divinity of the grape harvest, fertility and the god of wine. For this reason, festivals were celebrated in Ancient Greece to honor him, during which a car traveled through the polis with his image. The population followed the carriage, singing, dancing and drinking.

When Pisistratus, an Athenian military man, came to power in 560 BC, one of his priorities was to drive innovation in art and culture. Among these innovations was the inclusion of theatrical performances in the City of Dionysus.

In this way, a contest was created within the annual festival in honor of the god of wine. Four authors were chosen to participate and each of them had to choose three tragedies and a satirical work to compete.

Each author had a full day to perform their works, always in front of a crowd of citizens. At the end of the festival, it was decided who had been the best.

According to the available accounts, Pisistratus asked Thespis and his group to participate in the first of these Great Dionysiacs, celebrated in 534 BC. The author accepted and was the winner of the first prize for the best tragedy.

Birth of the theater

The recognition of Thespis, who had been a priest of the cult of Dionysus, saw by the innovation that he introduced in the representations. Thus, he was the first who did not limit himself to reciting the dithyrambs, but established a dialogue with the accompanying choir.

This has earned him the consideration of being the first actor in history and one of the fathers of the theater. In recognition, actors in the Western world have called themselves "Thespians."

Building on his success in the Great Dionysiacs, Thespis also invented theatrical tours. Thus, she began to travel to various cities to offer her performances. Her company carried everything necessary, costumes, masks, etc., in a horse-drawn cart.

The masks

Another of the innovations attributed to Tespis was the evolution of the masks that the actors used. Until then, these were simple, rather crude paintings, but the author began to use them as an element that distinguished and characterized the different characters.

In this way, starting with Thespis, the actors covered their faces in different ways, from applying a simple white lead-based makeup to making linen masks.

On the other hand, Themistio, affirms that Thespis was also the inventor of the prologue.

Criticism and Exile

Plutarco recounted another part of Thespis's life, this time much more negative. Thus, it tells that Solon, one of the Seven Sages of Greece, went to see one of the representations of Thespis. According to Plutarco, it was the first time that Thespis introduced his novelties in the way of representing tragedies.

According to it is related, at that time Solón was already very old and showed his dislike for the theater. The sage asked Thespis if she was not ashamed of her way of acting and of lying so much in front of a large number of people. The playwright's response was that he did not harm anyone, since it was only a theatrical performance.

This conversation is considered the first criticism of an actor, although the consequences were worse than just a negative opinion. Solon apparently arranged for Thespis to be sent into exile, along with his company and his chariot, although he continued to offer his art.

This legend, since its truthfulness cannot be verified one hundred percent, is well known in the world of theater. In fact, the car has become the emblem of the theatrical performance.

Aristotle

The philosopher Aristotle is the one who has left the most references to Thespis in his works. Thus, he says that the playwright was responsible for transforming the representation of stories in ancient Greece. His main contribution was the introduction of the individual characters against the traditional absolute protagonism of the choir.

With Thespis, the choir continued to have its role, but added a main actor who represented various characters distinguished by the use of different masks. This structure continued until the 5th century BC, when a second actor was introduced into the works.

Attributed works

Four plays are attributed to Thespis, all on mythological themes: Priests, Boys, Games in Honor of Pelias and Penteo. Except for one verse of this last work, nothing of those created by the author is preserved and, even, there are serious doubts that this fragment is authentic.

References

1. Ecured. Tespis, Obtained from ecured.cu
2. Biographies and Lives. Thespis. Obtained from biografiasyvidas.com
3. Fernández, Juanjo. Thespis and her car. Retrieved from nuevoateneodigital.blogspot.com
4. The Columbia Encyclopedia. Thespis. Retrieved from encyclopedia.com
5. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. Thespis. Retrieved from britannica.com
6. Caryl-Sue, National Geographic Society. Nov 23, 534 BCE: World's First Actor Takes the Stage. Retrieved from nationalgeographic.org
7. Wikipedia. Dithyramb. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org