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In the 5th Century the Athenian theatre had many social attributes which made it an incredibly important part of society. It reflected the typical cultural norms and values of the social, political and religious functions of the community. As B. Knox argued the ‘theatre […] expressed so clearly and directly the mood and mind of the whole [Athenian] community’, representing and relating to the audiences everyday life. The Athenian Theatre was closely linked to the political activities and actions of the community. The Bema, which held the political assembly, had many similarities to the theatre. Both these building were normally situated near to each other within the community and were of the same shape and size. They both had central circular stages where the speeches/ performances were carried out, and the audiences were elevated above the stage. These similarities between the two structures gave the theatre the same status as the political assembly. This would therefore give the audiences watching Athenian plays a sense of identity to their everyday lives. The situations and activities the Bema would deal with would then be performed to the public in the theat