There are many theories about the beginning of drama in ancient Greece.

　　The one most widely accepted today is based on the assumption that drama

　　evolved from ritual. The argument for this view goes as follows. In the

　　beginning, human beings viewed the natural forces of the world - even the

　　seasonal changes - as unpredictable, and they sought through various means

　　to control these unknown and feared powers. Those measures which

　　appeared to bring the desired results were then retained and repeated

　　until they hardened into fixed rituals. Eventually stories arose which

　　explained or veiled the mysteries of the rites. As time passed some rituals

　　were abandoned, but the stories, later called myths, persisted and provided

　　material for art and drama.

　　Those who believe that drama evolved out of ritual also argue that those

　　rites contained the seed of theater because music, dance, masks,

　　and costumes were almost always used. Furthermore, a suitable site had

　　to be provided for performances and when the entire community

　　did not participate, a clear division was usually made between

　　the "acting area" and the

　　"auditorium." In addition, there were performers, and, since

　　considerable importance was attached to avoiding mistakes in the

　　enactment of rites, religious leaders usually assumed that task. Wearing

　　masks and costumes, they often impersonated other people, animals, or

　　supernatural beings, and mimed the desired effect -- success in hunt or

　　battle, the coming rain, the revival of the Sun -- as an actor might.

　　Eventually such dramatic representations were separated from religious

　　activities.

　　Another theory traces the theater's origin from the human interest in

　　storytelling. According to this view tales (about the hunt, war, or other

　　feats) are gradually elaborated, at first through the use of impersonation,

　　action, and dialogue by a narrator and then through the assumption of each

　　of the roles by a different person. A closely related theory traces theater

　　to those dances that are primarily rhythmical and gymnastic or that

　　are imitations of animal movements and sounds.

　　戏剧的起源

　　关于古希腊戏剧的起源存在着多种理论，其中一个最普遍为人接受的理论 假设认为戏剧从仪式演化而来。

　　这个观点是这样进行论证的：一开始，人类把世界上的自 然力量，甚至季节的变化都看成是不可预料的。 他们试图通过各种方式去控制这些未知的、令人恐惧的力量。 那些似乎带来了满意结果的手段就被保留下来并且重复直到这些手段固 化为不变的仪式，最后产生了能够解释或者掩盖这些仪式神秘性的故事。

　　随着时间的推移， 一些仪式被废弃了，但这些后来被称作神话的故事流传下来并且为艺术和戏剧提供了素材。

　　认为戏剧从仪式演化而来的人们还认为那些仪式包含了戏剧的基本因素，因为音乐、舞蹈、面具和服装几乎经常被使用，而且，必须为演出提供一个合适的地点;如果不是整个社区共 同参加演出，经常在"演出区"和"观众席"之间划分出明显的分界。