Description
This greek theatre mask is The leader of the chorus of captive Trojan women.ย She leads:
Once Trojan subjects, the women are now slaves of the Greek conquerors. Like Hecuba, they have lost children and husbands. They sympathize with their former Queen throughout the play, even when she takes brutal revenge on innocent children. In their entrance song, they essentially play the part of a messenger, bringing bad news from the Greek armyโs assembly. In their second song, they wonder what their future holds and where they will be taken. Their third song looks back in time for the causes of the Trojan war: the felling of trees to build the ship that took Paris/Alexander to Sparta and the Judgment of Paris. The Chorus evoke the misery these have brought not to themselves, but (surprise) to a Greek girl and mother. In their fourth song, the Chorus narrate the fateful night of Troyโs fall from a Trojan wifeโs point of view. After this, they only sing a short song anticipating the downfall of Polymestor.
The greek theatre mask of the leader is as old as the wisdom of her people.ย Her strength is that of the masses and her resolve is one of all peoples.