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{{about|an ancient Greek theatre crane|a self-performing device|Machine|the village in Lebanon|Mechane, Lebanon}}
{{about|an ancient Greek theatre crane|a self-performing device|Machine|the village in Lebanon|Mechane, Lebanon}}


A '''mechane''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɛ|k|ə|n|iː}}; {{lang-el|μηχανή}}, ''mēkhanḗ'') or '''machine''' was a [[crane (machine)|crane]] used in [[History of theatre#Ancient Greek Theater|Greek theatre]], especially in the 5th and 4th centuries BC. Made of wooden beams and pulley systems, the device was used to lift an actor into the air, usually representing flight. This stage machine was particularly used to bring gods onto the stage from above,<ref name="Greek mechane sources">[[Plato]], ''[[Cratylus (dialogue)|Crat]].'' 425d; ''[[Clitophon (dialogue)|Clit]]''. 407a</ref> hence the Latin term ''[[deus ex machina]]'' ("god out of the [[machine]]"). [[Euripides]]' use of the mechane in ''[[Medea (play)|Medea]]'' (431 BC) is a notable use of the machine for a non-divine character. It was also often used by [[Aeschylus]]. It was used to allow actors playing gods to fly through the air.
A '''mechane''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɛ|k|ə|n|iː}}; {{langx|el|μηχανή}}, ''mēkhanḗ'') or '''machine''' was a [[crane (machine)|crane]] used in [[History of theatre#Greek theatre|Greek theatre]], especially in the 5th and 4th centuries BC. Made of wooden beams and pulley systems, the device was used to lift an actor into the air, usually representing flight. This stage machine was particularly used to bring gods onto the stage from above,<ref name="Greek mechane sources">[[Plato]], ''[[Cratylus (dialogue)|Crat]].'' 425d; ''[[Clitophon (dialogue)|Clit]]''. 407a</ref> hence the Latin term ''[[deus ex machina]]'' ("god from the [[machine]]"). [[Euripides]]' use of the mechane in ''[[Medea (play)|Medea]]'' (431 BC) is a notable use of the machine for a non-divine character. It was also often used by [[Aeschylus]].


==Use in Ancient Rome==
==Use in ancient Rome==
Stage machines were also used in ancient [[Ancient Rome|Rome]], e.g. during the sometimes highly dramatic performances at [[Roman funerals and burial|funerals]]. For [[Julius Caesar]]'s funeral service, [[Appian]] reports a mechane that was used to present a blood-stained wax [[effigy]] of the deceased [[Roman dictator|dictator]] to the funeral crowd. The mechane was used to turn the body in all directions.<ref name="Mechane at Caesar's funeral">App. ''B.C.'' 2.147. ''τὸ μὲν γὰρ σῶμα, ὡς ὕπτιον ἐπὶ λέχους, οὐχ ἑωρᾶτο. τὸ δὲ ἀνδρείκελον ἐκ μηχανῆς ἐπεστρέφετο πάντῃ''. [[Suetonius]] only reports a [[Tropaion|''tropaeum'']] to which the effigy (''simulacrum'') was affixed. (''Jul.'' 84)</ref> [[Geoffrey S. Sumi|Geoffrey Sumi]] proposes that the use of the mechane "hinted at Caesar's [[divinity]]".<ref name="Sumi source">Geoffrey S. Sumi: ''Ceremony and Power — Performing Politics in Rome between Republic and Empire'' (Ann Arbor 2005. 107–109, chapter ''Caesar ex machina''). ISBN 978-0-472-11517-4</ref> This is highly unlikely because Appian doesn't describe the mechane as a genuine ''deus-ex-machina'' device. Furthermore Caesar's [[apotheosis]] wasn't legally conducted until 42&nbsp;BC and Caesar had only been worshipped unofficially as ''[[divus]]'' during his lifetime. First and foremost, [[Mark Antony|Marcus Antonius]] attempted to arouse the masses as a means to strengthen Caesar's esteem as well as his own political power.<ref name="Consequences">That Caesar's [[Resurrection|''resurrectio'']] as god happened later during the funeral as he was [[Cremation|cremated]], and that it spawned the early Caesarian cult by the [[Gaius Marius (Pseudo-Marius)|Pseudo-Marius]], can't explain Antonius' intentions for using a mechane during the funeral.</ref>
Stage machines were also used in [[ancient Rome]], e.g. during the sometimes highly dramatic performances at [[Roman funerals and burial|funerals]]. For [[Julius Caesar]]'s funeral service, [[Appian]] reports a mechane that was used to present a blood-stained wax [[effigy]] of the deceased [[Roman dictator|dictator]] to the funeral crowd. The mechane was used to turn the body in all directions.<ref name="Mechane at Caesar's funeral">App. ''B.C.'' 2.147. ''τὸ μὲν γὰρ σῶμα, ὡς ὕπτιον ἐπὶ λέχους, οὐχ ἑωρᾶτο. τὸ δὲ ἀνδρείκελον ἐκ μηχανῆς ἐπεστρέφετο πάντῃ''. [[Suetonius]] only reports a [[Tropaion|''tropaeum'']] to which the effigy (''simulacrum'') was affixed. (''Jul.'' 84)</ref> [[Geoffrey S. Sumi|Geoffrey Sumi]] proposes that the use of the mechane "hinted at Caesar's [[divinity]]."<ref name="Sumi source">Geoffrey S. Sumi: ''Ceremony and Power — Performing Politics in Rome between Republic and Empire'' (Ann Arbor 2005. 107–109, chapter ''Caesar ex machina''). {{ISBN|978-0-472-11517-4}}</ref> This is highly unlikely because Appian doesn't describe the mechane as a genuine ''deus-ex-machina'' device. Furthermore Caesar's [[apotheosis]] wasn't legally conducted until 42&nbsp;BC and Caesar had only been worshipped unofficially as ''[[divus]]'' during his lifetime. First and foremost, [[Mark Antony|Marcus Antonius]] attempted to arouse the masses as a means to strengthen Caesar's esteem as well as his own political power.<ref name="Consequences">That Caesar's ''[[Resurrection|resurrectio]]'' as god happened later during the funeral as he was [[Cremation|cremated]], and that it spawned the early Caesarian cult by the [[Pseudo-Marius]], can't explain Antonius' intentions for using a mechane during the funeral.</ref>


==Religious significance==
==Religious significance==
In [[Christian]] [[Christian liturgy|liturgy]] the mechane has also been identified with the [[Christian cross|cross]]. [[Ignatius of Antioch|Ignatius]] calls the cross the "theatre mechane" of [[Jesus]] [[Christ]].<ref name="Ignatius source">Ignatius of Antioch: ''Letter to the Ephesians'' IX, I. ''ἀναφερόμενοι εἰς τὰ ὕψη διὰ τῆς μηχανῆς Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὅς ἐστιν σταυρός''.</ref>
In [[Christian liturgy]] the mechane has also been identified with the [[Christian cross|cross]]. [[Ignatius of Antioch|Ignatius]] calls the cross the "theatre mechane" of [[Jesus]] [[Christ]].<ref name="Ignatius source">Ignatius of Antioch: ''Letter to the Ephesians'' IX, I. ''ἀναφερόμενοι εἰς τὰ ὕψη διὰ τῆς μηχανῆς Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὅς ἐστιν σταυρός''.</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Divus Julius]]


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}


[[Category:Ancient Greek theatre]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek theatre]]
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Latest revision as of 01:50, 21 October 2024

This article is about an ancient Greek theatre crane. For a self-performing device, see Machine. For the village in Lebanon, see Mechane, Lebanon.

A mechane (/ˈmɛkəniː/; Greek: μηχανή, mēkhanḗ) or machine was a crane used in Greek theatre, especially in the 5th and 4th centuries BC. Made of wooden beams and pulley systems, the device was used to lift an actor into the air, usually representing flight. This stage machine was particularly used to bring gods onto the stage from above,[1] hence the Latin term deus ex machina ("god from the machine"). Euripides' use of the mechane in Medea (431 BC) is a notable use of the machine for a non-divine character. It was also often used by Aeschylus.

Use in ancient Rome

[edit]

Stage machines were also used in ancient Rome, e.g. during the sometimes highly dramatic performances at funerals. For Julius Caesar's funeral service, Appian reports a mechane that was used to present a blood-stained wax effigy of the deceased dictator to the funeral crowd. The mechane was used to turn the body in all directions.[2] Geoffrey Sumi proposes that the use of the mechane "hinted at Caesar's divinity."[3] This is highly unlikely because Appian doesn't describe the mechane as a genuine deus-ex-machina device. Furthermore Caesar's apotheosis wasn't legally conducted until 42 BC and Caesar had only been worshipped unofficially as divus during his lifetime. First and foremost, Marcus Antonius attempted to arouse the masses as a means to strengthen Caesar's esteem as well as his own political power.[4]

Religious significance

[edit]

In Christian liturgy the mechane has also been identified with the cross. Ignatius calls the cross the "theatre mechane" of Jesus Christ.[5]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Plato, Crat. 425d; Clit. 407a
  2. ^ App. B.C. 2.147. τὸ μὲν γὰρ σῶμα, ὡς ὕπτιον ἐπὶ λέχους, οὐχ ἑωρᾶτο. τὸ δὲ ἀνδρείκελον ἐκ μηχανῆς ἐπεστρέφετο πάντῃ. Suetonius only reports a tropaeum to which the effigy (simulacrum) was affixed. (Jul. 84)
  3. ^ Geoffrey S. Sumi: Ceremony and Power — Performing Politics in Rome between Republic and Empire (Ann Arbor 2005. 107–109, chapter Caesar ex machina). ISBN 978-0-472-11517-4
  4. ^ That Caesar's resurrectio as god happened later during the funeral as he was cremated, and that it spawned the early Caesarian cult by the Pseudo-Marius, can't explain Antonius' intentions for using a mechane during the funeral.
  5. ^ Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to the Ephesians IX, I. ἀναφερόμενοι εἰς τὰ ὕψη διὰ τῆς μηχανῆς Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὅς ἐστιν σταυρός.


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