prologoi

Prologoi, singular prologos, is a Greek term meaning “before speech.” It refers to the opening portion of a work, especially in ancient Greek drama and in discussions of rhetorical or literary form. The term is used to describe the initial section that introduces the situation, setting, and background before the main action unfolds.

In ancient Greek tragedy, the prologos occurs before the chorus enters and often presents the situation to the audience, introduces key characters, and establishes the tone and conflict. The content and length of a prologos vary by author and play, and it is typically followed by the parodos, the chorus’s entrance.

Beyond drama, prologoi also appear in rhetorical and literary criticism as the opening of a discourse or text. In this sense, the prologos functions similarly to a modern prologue: it presents the topic, provides essential context, and prepares the audience for what follows. The term is most commonly encountered in classical philology and studies of ancient rhetoric and theater.

In scholarly usage, prologoi can be discussed collectively when analyzing multiple openings in a body of works, or individually when describing a particular text’s opening segment. While the concept shares a common aim with prologues in later literature, prologoi retain specific classical associations with Greek rhetorical and dramatic practices.