What are costumes? When we first hear the word, we tend to think of costumes: colorful sets of frivolous or wild clothing, usually worn during some sort of theater production or special event. But why is this? Because since the dawn of time, people have used costumes to tell their stories, myths and legends. Costumes were used to better understand the stories being told to them, making the story easier to remember and thus making the story easier to tell over and over again. This is how the basis of theater was formed, and from these stories from thousands of years ago, theater became the source of entertainment that we all know and love today. Costumes, too, have evolved with theater, and today there isn't a show or film on earth that doesn't involve a flashy sartorial spectacle somewhere within it. However, unlike theater, costume has remained true to its roots throughout the ages, with those roots being its overall purpose: to help the audience understand the story being told. This is why, to me, the use of costumes in theater production is an invaluable piece in any type of play, musical, film or drama that needs to be performed or shown to an audience. A brief history The theater productions that we all know so well actually began in 550 BC, in ancient Greece. In Athens, during the Festival of Dionysia, performances involving dance and re-enactments of popular myths were presented to pay homage to the god of wine, ecstasy and ritual madness, Dionysus. These festivities usually lasted about a week, after which the best performers were named and given some sort of prize. As the festivities unfolded, the Festiva...... middle of paper ....... (ND) A Brief History of Costumes in Theater Retrieved from http://www.clancy.uk .com/cdw /cdwhist6.htmlTheater History Resources (ND) Retrieved from http://www.fragrancex.com/fragrance-information/theater-history-resources.htmlTrumbull E. (2007) Roman Theater and Theater Retrieved from http:/ /novaonline.nvcc .edu/eli/spd130et/roman.htmEagan M. (2014) Iconography as scenography: the power of the emblematic image in scenography Retrieved from http://www.artsalive.ca/collections/costumes /iconography.php?lang=en&page =1Film M. (2008) Lessons in Costume: Symbolism and Color Retrieved from http://moviemavencostumedesign.blogspot.com/2008/06/lessons-in-costuming-symbolism-color-or. htmlReflecting Historical Periods in Stage Costumes (2014) Retrieved from http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/r/reflecting-historical-periods-in-stage-costume/