The God’s festival which was the cause for developing dramatic performances was called the Celebration of Dionysos. In Ancient Athens, in honor of the god Dionysus, there was a large festival celebrated called Dionysia. There were theatrical performances as the central events and there were comedies from 487 BC. This festival comes second after Panathenaia when it comes to its importance. The Rural Dionysia and the City Dionysia, which took place in the different parts of the year, are the two related festivals of Dionysia. These two are essential parts of the Dionysian Mysteries. The first performance of tragedy at the Dionysia, at the tradition, was by the playwright and actor Thespis in 534 BC. The reported prize was a goat, a common symbol for Dionysus. This suggests that it was due to this "prize", that the origin of the word "tragedy", which means "goat-song", came to life.
