τραγῳδία

A. tragedy, Ar. Ach. 464, al., And. 4.23, Arist. Po. 1447a13, etc.; τ. ποιεῖν compose a tragedy, Ar. Ach. 400, etc.; κωμῳδίαν καὶ τ. ποιοῦντες Pl. R. 395a; τραγῳδιῶν ποιηταί OGI 51.31 (Egypt, iii B. C.), cf. SIG 1079.3 (Magn. Mae., ii/i B. C.); ποιητὴς τραγῳδιῶν IG 22.1132.38 = SIG 399.34 (Decr. Amphict., iii B. C.), OGI 352.7 (Athens, ii B. C.), IG 7.3197.28 (Orchom. Boeot.); π. τραγῳδίας ib. 416.27 (Oropus, i B. C.); τραγῳδίας διδάσκειν (cf. διδάσκω 111) D.L. 1.59; τραγῳδίᾳ διδάξαντα τὴν Μιλήτου ἅλωσιν Plu. 2.814b; ὀκτὼ τ. διαγωνίσασθαι to act in eight tragedies, ib.785c; τῇ τ. νικᾶν Pl. Smp. 173a; expld. as 'goatsong', because a goat was the prize, Marm.Par. 58, Sch.Hermog. in Rh.Mus. 63.150; other explanations in EM 764.1: cf. τρυγῳδία.

2. in a simile, μίμησις τοῦ καλλίστου καὶ ἀρίστου βίου, ὃ δή φαμεν . . ὄντως εἶναι τραγῳδίαν τὴν ἀληθεστάτην Pl. Lg. 817b; ἡ τοῦ βίου τ. καὶ κωμῳδία Id. Phlb. 50b.

II. generally, any grave, serious poetry, opp. κωμῳδία, hence Homer is called a writer of tragedy, Id. Tht. 152e; cf. τραγικός, τραγῳδοποιός.

2. an exaggerated speech, Hyp. Lyc. 12 (prob.l.), Eux. 26: hence of descriptions of horrors, Plb. 6.56.11, D.S. 19.8, etc.

3. outward grandeur, pomp, Plu. Demetr. 41, Arat. 15, Ps.-Zaleuc. ap. Stob. 4.2.19(pl.), Luc. Gall. 24; τραγῳδίαν ἐπιθεῖναι τοῖς πράγμασιπροσποιητήν D.H. 6.70.