Ancient Greek tragedies were designed to provide catharsis—an emotional cleansing that allowed audiences to release powerful feelings in a safe, controlled environment.

The concept of catharsis was first formally defined by the philosopher Aristotle in his influential work Poetics, written around 335 BCE. Aristotle argued that tragedy's primary purpose was to evoke pity and fear in order to achieve a purgation of these emotions. He believed that by witnessing a hero's downfall, audiences could experience these feelings vicariously without facing real-world consequences.During the Great Dionysia festival in Athens, thousands of citizens gathered in the Theatre of Dionysus to watch plays by masters such as Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. These performances served not merely as entertainment but as vital civic and religious functions. The emotional release helped maintain social stability by allowing citizens to collectively vent their frustrations and anxieties in a structured setting.Modern psychology traces the Greek concept of catharsis to the work of Sigmund Freud and Josef Breuer in the late 19th century. In their 1895 book Studies on Hysteria, they used the term to describe the therapeutic release of repressed emotions through talk therapy. This historical connection shows how ancient theatrical traditions laid the foundation for contemporary psychotherapy and modern emotional regulation techniques.Recent neurological research has explored how narrative immersion affects the brain. When audiences engage with tragic stories, the brain releases oxytocin and cortisol, which can enhance empathy and social bonding. This biological response supports the ancient Greek theory that shared emotional experiences in the theater could strengthen community bonds and improve individual mental health.