Its first actors are priests; its scenic performances are religious ceremonies, national festivals.
One last observation, which completes our demonstration of the epic character of this epoch: in the subjects which it treats, no less than in the forms it adopts, tragedy simply re-echoes the epic.

All the ancient tragic authors derive their plots from Homer.

The same fabulous exploits, the same catastrophes, the same heroes.

One and all drink from the Homeric stream.

The Iliad and Odyssey are always in evidence.