There are many theories about the beginning ofdrama in ancient Greece. The on most widelyaccepted today is based on the assumption thatdrama evolved from ritual. The argument for thisview goes as follows. In the beginning, human beingsviewed the natural forces of the world-even theseasonal changes-as unpredictable, and theysought through various means to control theseunknown and feared powers. Those measureswhich appeared to bring the desired results werethen retained and repeated until they hardened into fixed rituals.

　　Eventually stories arose which explained or veiled the mysteries of the rites. As time passedsome rituals were abandoned, but the stories, later called myths, persisted and providedmaterial for art and drama. Those who believe that drama evolved out of ritual also argue thatthose rites contained the seed of theater because music, dance, masks, and costumes werealmost always used, Furthermore, a suitable site had to be provided for performances andwhen 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, sinceconsiderable importance was attached to avoiding mistakes in the enactment of rites,religious leaders usually assumed that task. Wearing masks and costumes, they oftenimpersonated 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. Eventuallysuch dramatic representations were separated from religious activities.

　　Another theory traces the theater's origin from the human interest in storytelling. Accordingto this vies tales (about the hunt, war, or other feats) are gradually elaborated, at first throughthe use of impersonation, action, and dialogue by a narrator and then through theassumption of each of the roles by a different person. A closely related theory traces theaterto those dances that are primarily rhythmical and gymnastic or that are imitations of animalmovements and sounds.

有关于希腊古代戏剧理论的开始。在最被广泛接受的今天是基于一个假设，戏剧从仪式演化而来。对于这一观点的论证如下。在开始的时候，人类的世界beingsviewed甚至季节的变化都看成是不可预料的自然力，他们试图通过各种方式去控制theseunknown和恐惧的力量。那些似乎带来了满意的结果，就被保留下来并且重复直到这些手段固化为不变的仪式。
最终出现的故事解释或掩盖了神秘的仪式。随着时间的passedsome仪式被废弃了，但这些后来被称为神话，坚持为艺术和戏剧提供了素材。那些认为戏剧从仪式演化也认为这些包含了戏剧的基本因素，因为音乐、舞蹈、面具和服装几乎总是使用一个合适的地点，而且，必须为演出提供整个社区没有参与，分工明确，通常在“表演区”之间，“大礼堂”。此外，还有演员，而且，sinceconsiderable重视避免错误的仪式，宗教领袖通常承担的任务。戴着面具和服装，他们经常扮演各种其他人、动物或超自然的生灵，用动作来表演以达到打猎或战斗的胜利，即将到来的雨，太阳的复兴作为一个演员可能。最后这些戏剧性的表演从宗教活动中分离了出来。
另一个追溯戏剧起源的理论来源于人类对故事的兴趣。根据这个观点，故事（关于狩猎、战争或者其它伟绩）是逐渐丰富，在模仿、行动首先通过使用一个叙述者，对话，然后通过假设每个角色由不同的人。一个与之紧密相关的理论将戏剧的舞蹈是有节奏感的和体操或是animalmovements和声音的模仿。