I. THE CITY DIONYSIA: during Elaphebolion. the month of stags (modern March and beginning of April)

Founded in 534Bc by Pesistratus who brought Thespis from Icaria to Athens where he created the first actor by setting himself outside the khoros as hypokrites or "answerer." This marks the first official connection of theater and the state. The festival was overseen by the archon eponymous . the highest state official whose name was written in the Didascalia or theatrical record. Poets sent him plays from which he selected those he deemed worthy to which he assigned a khoros and a khoregos, whose civic duty—Margarete Bieber calls it a "state tax" --it was to pay for the presentation: rehearsals, costumes and other equipment

The audience was international and cosmopolitan as the seas were navigable during Elaphebolion; prisoners were released; the citizenry turned out in festive white garb and even slaves were encouraged to attend. There was even a general amnesty of prisoners so literally everyone could participate. Wine appropriately flowed.

The judging for prizes was done by a panel of ten men, one from each of the ten Attic tribes. Each cast one ballot. The archon drew five at random which determined the winner Being a judge was a great honor and the judges were carefully scrutinized.

Calendar of Events - - City Dionysia

First day- - Proagon Introductory session of all participants poets, khoregoi, actors (sans masks), khoros, and musicians. led by a trumpeter and with the Thespis car (see Bieber figs 56-58 p 1 9 ) , maidens carrying sacrificial implements, and priests leading the bull which would be sacrificed in the sacred precinct. After Perikles erected the Odeum (446-442BC), a preliminary introduction of the participants was held therein

Second Day- Procession (post Odeum). sacrifices and ten dithyrambs. each of which was sung by a khoros of 50 men from one of the ten (Bieber says 5) Attic tribes and at least one flute player [During the procession a statue of Dionysos was taken outside the city and carried back in to represent the coming of the god]

Third Day- 5 Comedies by 5 poets) each of which used about five actors, a khoros of 24 plus flute players and sometimes kitharists.

Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Days: Three Tetralogies: consisting of a trilogy of tragedies and one satyr play. In each tragedy, there were 3 actors. a khoros of 15 and at least two musicians Each satyr play. used 3 actors, a khoros of 12 and a flute player

Seventh Day- - Ekklesia or ‘assembly' where prizes and awards were distributed and everything unseemly which occurred during the festival was rebuked and punished (Bieber p 53 )

II. The lesser or RURAL DIONYSIA in the month of Poseidon (December & beginning of January,) Involved revelries focussing on fertility. including phallic chant, sacrifice. drinking of wine. singing of songs to the god of fertility. Eventually tragic and comic plays were performed perhaps evolving from the practice of drunken. masked paraders, carrying the phallus and singing songs honoring the god of fertility and insulting citizens. By the time plays were performed, Dionysos was identified as the god of fertility. It attracted Euripides, Socrates and other men of importance. Some claim Comedy evolved from the Rural Dionysia.

III. THE LENAEA in the month of Gamelion (January and early February) the traditional time for marriages, the consummation of which would take place on the last day of the month during the night of the dark moon. Comedy was first performed at the Lenaea in Athens ca. 492BC. Tragedy was added ca 442BC. According to Pickering, The Lenaea was overseen by the Archon Basileus. the primary religious official

IV. THE ANTHESTERIA in the month of Anthesterion (February to beginning of March--in Greece the month of flowers) There were three stages:
1] New wine was brought
2] Newlyweds (and other citizens) drank the new wine
3] Chytroi or "feast of pots" during which little children were given gifts of pots, and, on the final day, food was set out for the souls of the departed

Apparently, plays were never a part of these goings-on.