Distant Ventriloquism: Vocal Mimesis, Agency and Identity in Ancient Greek Performance

This essay presents evidence from mostly non-dramatic sources that provides relevant cultural context for the problem of voice characterization in ancient theatre. The exposed cultural codes show that vocal difference often signified a change of speaker, whether from one represented character to another, or from the human medium to the possessing demon or spirit. A deep and even sentimental linking of voice, identity, and agency in Greek culture suggests that vocal difference was important in signifying character identity and the agency behind speech.