Timeline: Aeschylus

525 BCE

Aeschylus's beginning

Aeschylus was born in Eleusis, Greece- which is a small city west of Athens- at around 525 BC. His fathers name was Euphorion, who was a wealthy man of the upper class.

510 BCE

Aeschylus's works- a brief overview.

Throughout Aeschylus's life he wrote around 90 different plays- 80 known titles and only seven that survived in its entirety- ranging from tragedies to satire. Some of these include "Prometheus Bound", "Seven against Thebes" and the "Oresteia Trilogy". Philosopher Philostratus referred to Aeschylus as the "Father of Tragedy".

507 BCE

The Athenian Revolution

The Athenian Revolution occured from 507-508 B.C. Before this time, Athens were ruled under tyrants (a city led by a single, often times cruel dictator). This revolution was a direct reaction to the growing influence of tyranny that spread throughout Greece. Hipparchos, a tyrant, was murdered in 514 B.C. The leaders following him grew increasingly more cruel and dangerous, which led to the revolution. This resulted in Athens becoming a democratic society.

500 BCE

Athenian democracy and its impact on his work

Aeschylus grew up in a time where Athens was trying to establish itself as a strong democratic city. Many of his plays displayed Athenian patriotism- conveyed through plays such as "Persians" which was a response to the Persian invasions occuring in Athens at that time.

500 BCE

How the writing became to be

For his earlier years of life, Aeschylus worked at a vineyard in Eleusis. According to him, the god of Dionysus visited him in a dream and told him to put all his time and energy into writing plays. From then on, Aeschylus wrote tragedies.

499 BCE

Festival of Dionysus

This festival had many different parts, but the part that Aeschylus participated in was The Great Dionysia. This is when 3 playwrights would produce 3 tragedies, followed by a styr play. Aeschylus first participated in 499 B.C, and won in the spring of 484 B.C

490 BCE

The Battle of Marathon

This battle was fought between Greece and the Persians. The Persians invaded Greece due to Greece's support for the uprisings in Ionia against the Persian Empire. Aeschylus was 35 years old when he took part in this battle, where his brother,Cynegeirus was killed.

480 BCE

The Battle of Artemisium

This battle was fought in 480 B.C that lasted for 3 days between the Greeks and Persians. The Greeks held their own but withdrew after 3 days of battle after being told the defeat at Thermopylae. Ultimately the Persians gained a naval victory. Aeschylus was in this battle as well during his rise as a influential playwright.

480 BCE

The Battle Of Salmais

This battle happened in 480 B.C. The Greeks defeated the Persian naval forces despite being significantly smaller than the Persian forces. They won by luring the Persian forces into narrow waters of the straight at Salmais. Here, the large Persian ships had difficulty maneuvering. The Greeks attacked and sank about 300 Persian vessel, while only losing 40 of their own. Aeschylus was believed to have participated in this battle as well.

472 BCE

Persians

After Aeschylus being in several battles with the Persians, in order to shed light to the citizens at home not participating in the war he wrote "Persians". This play was first produced in 472 B.C and won first prize. Later on Aeschylus visited Sicily to present "Persians" again. From here on, his success rose for several years to come.

469 BCE

Aeschylus growing success

After the death of Phrynichus, another Greek tragedian, Aeschylus became the yearly favourite and went on to win every competition.

468 BCE

Aeschylus vs. Sophocles

Sophocles was a new playwright who first entered the festival in 468 B.C. Aeschylus was removed from his thrown that year due to Sophocles winning first place.

468 BCE

Acting before Aeschylus

Before Aeschylus, Greek dramas had only one actor. By switching between masks and costumes, one actor took on different roles in a play. The only way the actor would engage in dialogue was through a chorus (a group of people who commented/responded to the actors actions within the play as it unfolds).

468 BCE

Seven Against Thebes

The very next year, Aeschylus took back his spot and won due to his play "Seven Against Thebes". This play was about a man named Eteocles who is protecting his city of Thebs against an army created by Polyneices- who is his brother. Eteocles asks for all 6 gates to Thebs to be protected by the army, but gate 7 is where he will fight. In the end, both brothers die.

462 BCE

Acting after Aeschylus

Aeschylus added a second actor in his plays. Him doing this took dramas to the next level. Having two actors that can have their own dialogue allowed for the play to have more dramatic tension and gave the plot structure more flexibility. In Aristotle's poetics he stated by Aeschylus doing this, he: "reduced the chorus’ role and made the plot the leading actor.”

460 BCE

Aeschylus's family

Although the dates are unknown, Aeschylus did get married and had two sons, Euphorion and Euaeon. Following their fathers footsteps, both became tragic poets.

459 BCE

The sons success

Their fathers first loss was to Sophocles. However, Euphorion defeated Sophocles in the festival one year and Euripidesin and won the first prize in a competition in another. The two sons took their fathers writing skills and learned from him in order to become successful. Aeschylus’ nephew, was a tragic poet as well.

458 BCE

Prometheus Bound

This play was written at an unknown date about the god Promethus who defied Zues by saving humanity with his gift of fire. For this act Zeus has ordered that he be chained to a remote crag. This play demonstrated the clash between a extreme power (the persian empire at the time)and strong will (the rising Athens). Many plays like this display the connection of justice and fate

456 BCE

The Eagle and Tortoise

Oddly enough, some writer fabricated a story about his death, saying that an Eagle dropped a Oddly enough, some writer fabricated a story about his death, saying that an Eagle dropped a tortoise on his head. However, this writer later came forward and admitted to lying. It was never confirmed exactly how he died.

456 BCE

Aeschylus's death

He passed in 456 or 455 B.C at Gela. There the city held a public funeral for him. Sacrifices and performances were held at his grave, which later became a place of pilgrimage for writers.

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