Throughout history, drama has been present in human societies. In every culture of the world there are forms of drama used in rituals, religious ceremonies, storytelling, festivals and celebrations. These varied forms of drama have connections to contemporary definitions of drama and theatre. Always, wonderful stories and human situations come to life through the imaginations and work of the world's dramatic artists.
Citations appear in full in the bibliography, alphabetized by title .
Most cultures include aspects of drama or theatre in special celebrations and daily living through imitation, role playing, costumes and rituals. In addition, theatre has developed as an art form over time with a history of its own. 441 B.C. citizens attended the Theatre of Dionysus, an acoustically designed amphitheatre on the south side of the Acropolis, to view several plays by the well known and greatly admired playwright Sophocles. The remains of the theatre can still be seen today. The site is also the home of several temples including the Parthenon, dedicated to the goddess Athena.