Greek theatre came into its own between 600 and 200 BC in the ancient city of Athens. The forms of comedy and tragedy were created and refined. Only Shakespearian England and the cinema of the twentieth century have rivaled Greek theatre, and they owe much of their existence and structure to the efforts of the Greeks.

Major Greek playwrights

• Aeschylus
• Sophocles
• Euripides
• Aristophanes
• Menander