Life Thespis of Icaria (Θέσπις ὁ Ἰκαριεύς) was a 6th-century BCE poet from Attica, traditionally credited as the inventor of tragedy. Ancient sources, such as Aristotle, report that he introduced the first actor (hypokritēs), who engaged in dialogue with the chorus leader, and he is associated with the early use of masks [1][2][3]. His historical existence is debated, but later records state he won the first tragic competition at the City Dionysia in Athens around 534 BCE [1][2][4].

Works No works by Thespis survive. Later lexicons like the Suda attribute titles to him, such as Pentheus, The Priests, and plays concerning mythological figures like Pelias, but these cannot be verified [1][4].

Significance Thespis holds a seminal place as the foundational figure of Western drama. The innovation of a separate actor, distinct from the chorus, created the essential dynamic of dramatic dialogue and marked the evolution of tragedy from choral performance. His name is permanently attached to the origin of acting, giving rise to the term "thespian" [1][2][3].

Sources 1. Encyclopædia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thespis 2. World History Encyclopedia: https://www.worldhistory.org/Thespis/ 3. Perseus Digital Library, Aristotle, Poetics 1449a: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0056:section=1449a 4. ToposText: https://topostext.org/people/1120