Part of a system of leitourgiai in ancient Greece whereby the rich financed expensive public services. A chorēgia was assigned to an individual chorēgos, who was responsible for setting up a chorus to compete in dithyramb, tragedy or comedy at a public religious festival. Competing chorēgoi cast lots for priority in choosing an aulos player to accompany the chorus. Each chorēgos enlisted choreutai (members of a chorus) and funded their teacher, training facilities, board and lodging, costumes and accessories. Although the bulk of our information pertains to Athens, where the chorēgia was abolished in the late 4th century bce, there is evidence of chorēgiai in other ancient Greek cities.
H.W. Parke: Festivals of the Athenians (Ithaca, NY, 1977)
A. Pickard-Cambridge: The Dramatic Festivals of Athens (Oxford, 1953, rev. 2/1988 by J. Gould and D.M. Lewis)
E. Csapo and W.J. Slater: The Context of Ancient Drama (Ann Arbor, MI, 1995)
DENISE DAVIDSON GREAVES