Most of the evidence from which knowledge of dramatic costume comes from is pottery depicting dramatic scenes. Two well-known examples of vases of this sort are the Pronomos vase and the Choregoi vase.

http://www.usu.edu/.../images/08/pronomosvase.JPG

The Pronomos vase (so-named for the aulos-player pictured), above, is a red-figure volute-krater, from roughly 400 B.C., which shows a scene of actors preparing for a satyr-play performance. The two central seated figures are Pronomos the aulos-player and Dionysus, while the poet Demetrios sits to the left. The rest of the 11 figures are chorus members in preparation. The Pronomos vase captures the ornate nature of satyr-play costumes.

Storey, Ian C., and Arlene Allan. A Guide to Ancient Greek Drama. Malden: Blackwell, 2005.

The Choregoi vase, above, is a terracotta Apulian red-figure bell-krater depicting a scene from an unknown comedy, possibly Aristophanes’ Precontest. The scene on this vase juxtaposes the costumes and appearance of tragic and comedic actors. To the far left is a tragic actor in elaborate, full-length garb typical of tragedy, while three comic actors, complete with padding and phalloi, are shown in contrast to the right.

References

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Storey, Ian C., and Arlene Allan. A Guide to Ancient Greek Drama. Malden: Blackwell, 2005.

Webster, T.b.l. Greek Theatre Production. 2nd ed. London: Methuen and Co. LTD, 1970.

Wiles, David. Tragedy in Athens. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1997.

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