Ancient Greek Playwright Aeschylus
Tragic Dramatist Known for Oresteia Trilogy and Eumenides Quotes
Apr 7, 2009
Aeschylus was one of the greatest playwrights of ancient Greece. He is said to have invented tragedy as a form of theatre. For this, he is called the father of Greek tragedy.
Aeschylus was extremely influential on prominent playwrights who followed him, namely, Aristophanes and Euripides.
Early Life of Aeschylus
As he lived a long time ago, little is known about the life of Aeschylus (c. 524 BC – 456 BC). Historians think that he was born at Eleusis, near Athens in Greece.
It's believed Aeschylus made several trips to Sicily in Italy during his lifetime; It is thought that he most probably died there.
Patriotic Service in Two Battles
Aeschylus fought in two of the most famous battles of ancient history: the Battle of Marathon in 490 in 490 BC and the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC. Both battles were hopeless struggles in which the democratic Greek city-states defeated the armies of the powerful Persian empire, trying to conquer them.
Aeschylus' experiences in these battles can be seen in his vivid writing about war and suffering.
Aeschylus, An Easy Winner in Playwriting Competitions
In Aeschylus's time, the theatre was an important part of community life. Regular playwriting competitions were held, and the winners were highly regarded.
Aeschylus first entered one of these competitions in 472 BC with his play The Persians. Not surprisingly, he won first prize. In the well-known Theatre of Dionysus in Athens, many of his plays were performed.
Aeschylus is thought to have written more than 80 plays, 52 of which won first prizes. Unfortunately, very few have survived, perhaps seven of them.
Religious Theme and Political Messages
Religious theme dominates Aeschylus's work, in particular, his trilogy The Oresteia, said to be the only complete trilogy that survived from Ancient Greece.
In like manner, his plays also have strong political messages. He used myths to make moral points about the events that he saw going on. So powerful were his writings that they are still performed today.
An Insightful Quote from Aeschylus
"He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God."
Works by Aeschylus
- The Persians, 472 BC
- Seven Against Thebes, 467 BC
- The Suppliant Women, c. 463 BC
- Prometheus Bound, c. 460-456 BC
- The Oresteia Trilogy: 458 BC, consisting of Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and Eumenides (The Furies, for Greek deities of vengeance)
For more Aeschylus Quotes, visit ThinkExist.
Sources:
- Goring, Rosemary, Ed. Larousse Dictionary of Writers. New York: Larousse, 1994.
- McGovern, Una, Ed. Biographical Dictionary. Edinburgh: Chambers / Harrap Publishers, 2002.
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