Origins. The origins of tragedy were much debated by the ancient Greeks themselves. The Greek word tragoidia means literally "goat-song." Some scholars believe this term was used because tragedy originally involved a competition for the prize of a goat, or that tragedy was originally performed by humans who dressed as goatlike creatures. The latter explanation seems to be the one favored by Aristotle, who implies that tragedy began as a dithyramb (a type of choral song) sung by men dressed as satyrs. Mere choral singing, however, could never be equated with drama as such, and while there is some evidence that these choirs began in the Peloponnese, it was in Athens that the decisive move was made which established European drama. Tradition gives the name of the first individual actor, who stood out as separate from the chorus, as Thespis, and ascribes his first success...