Æschylos Tragedies and Fragments

"Æschylos Tragedies and Fragments" by Aeschylus is a collection of ancient Greek tragedies written in the 5th century BC. The volume includes translations of several of Aeschylus's surviving works, such as "The Persians," "The Seven Who Fought Against Thebes," and "Prometheus Bound," along with some of his fragments. The plays often explore themes of fate, divine justice, and human suffering, showcasing the grandeur and complexity of Aeschylus's dramatic storytelling. At the start of "The Persians," the Chorus of Persian Elders gathers in Susa, anxiously awaiting news of the Persian army that Xerxes has led against Hellas. They express profound concern for their king and fellow warriors as they recount the might of their forces and the ominous silence that follows their departure. The opening sets a tone of impending doom, foreshadowing the tragic fate awaiting the Persian legions after their encounter with the Greeks at Salamis. As the narrative unfolds, Atossa, Xerxes' mother, enters to express her fears and recount troubling dreams, reflecting the gravity of the situation and the emotional weight of the impending disaster. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Aeschylus was an ancient Greek tragedian often described as the father of tragedy. Academic knowledge of the genre begins with his work, and understanding of earlier Greek tragedy is largely based on inferences made from reading his surviving plays. According to Aristotle, he expanded the number of characters in the theatre and allowed conflict among them. Formerly, characters interacted only with the chorus.