Aeschylus is regarded as one of the greatest Greek tragedians, who lived from 525/524 BCE to 456/455 BCE. He was a contemporary of Sophocles and Euripides, and together they form the three great masters of ancient Greek drama. Aeschylus is known for his innovative dramatic techniques and for introducing the second actor on stage. He wrote about 90 plays, of which only seven have survived to the present day, but these works have had a profound influence on Western literature.
Life
Aeschylus was born in Eleusis, a small town near Athens. His father Euphorion was a member of the Eupatridae, the aristocratic class of Athens. Little is known about his early life, but it is believed that he fought in the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE. Later, he participated in the Persian Wars and fought at the battles of Artemisium and Salamis.
Aeschylus began his career as a playwright in 499 BCE, at the age of 26, when he won his first victory in the City Dionysia, the most important Athenian festival dedicated to the god Dionysus. He continued to write and produce plays for the next 50 years, winning a total of 13 victories in the festival, more than any other playwright.
In addition to his literary work, Aeschylus was involved in the political life of Athens. He served as a member of the Boule, the Athenian council, and he was a military leader during the Peloponnesian War. In 458 BCE, he left Athens and moved to Sicily, where he died a few years later.
Works
Aeschylus is best known for his tragedies, which deal with important themes such as justice, revenge, the relationship between humans and the gods, and the role of the individual in society. His plays were performed in the theater of Dionysus, an open-air amphitheater in Athens, and they were attended by thousands of spectators.
The seven surviving plays of Aeschylus are:
The Persians (472 BCE): This play is based on the Persian Wars and it is the oldest surviving play of Aeschylus. It tells the story of the Persian defeat at the Battle of Salamis from the perspective of the defeated Persians.
Seven Against Thebes (467 BCE): This play deals with the conflict between the two sons of Oedipus, Eteocles and Polynices, who are both vying for the throne of Thebes.
The Suppliants (463 BCE): This play tells the story of the daughters of Danaus, who flee from Egypt to Argos to escape forced marriages.
The Oresteia (458 BCE): This is a trilogy of plays consisting of Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides. It tells the story of the House of Atreus, a cursed family that is plagued by murder and revenge.
Prometheus Bound (unknown date): This play deals with the myth of Prometheus, the Titan who defies the gods by giving fire to humans and is punished by Zeus.
Fragments (unknown dates): These are surviving fragments of some of Aeschylus' lost plays, including Myrmidons, Niobe, and Phineus.
Aeschylus is known for his use of poetic language and for his innovative dramatic techniques. He introduced the second actor on stage, which allowed for more complex interactions between characters, and he also used the chorus to comment on the action and provide context for the audience. He also used special effects, such as the use of masks, to enhance the dramatic impact.