Aeschylus

Aeschylus is Born

524 BCE

Aeschylus was born in 524 B.C.E in Eleusis, Greece.
Born to a noble and wealthy family.
Son of Euphorion, a wealthy man of upper class.

Introduction Facts

524 BCE

Aeschylus is the first of classical Athens.
Great Greek dramatist.
Wrote about 89 plays, only 7 survived in complete form.
Themes: morality, fate, the power of law, humans vs. gods.
Aeschylus was known for creating spectacular effects on stage. Foe example, The Suppliants, has a second chorus of men rush onto the stage and attempt to abduct the principal chorus consisting of female characters.

Tyranny of Peisistratus

510 BCE

The tyranny of Peisistratus had been overthrown.
Few years later important political reforms were present.
This resulted in a complete democracy in Europe.

Young Aeschylus

509 BCE

It is believed that as a child Aeschylus once fell asleep while grape picking, that the Greek god of grape harvest, Dionysus, visited Aeschylus and instructed him to write tragedies.

Persian War

499 BCE

Aeschylus was a soldier who participated in the Persian War.
Persian War began in order to subdue rebellious Greek city-states in the western part of the empire.
The war lasted for half a century.
The Persian War gave the Greeks a new feeling of confidence

Beginning of Works

498 BCE

Most of Aeschylus education consisted of the writings of Homer.
Homer was Aeschylus's biggest influence during his teenage life.

Homer

498 BCE

Homer is an influential Greek who wrote Iliad and The Odyssey.
900 B.C.E - 701 B.C.E
One of the greatest world literary artists.
hospitality, loyalty, and vengeance

Battle of Marathon

490 BCE

The Battle of Marathon was part of the first Persian invasion of Greece
Aeschylus performed The Suppliants and also fought in the battle of Marathon.
In this battle, Aeschylus's brother died.

Cynaegirus

490 BCE

Cynaegirus was the brother of Aeschylus.
He was an ancient Greek of Athens.
Died at the battle of Marathon

The Festival of Dionysus

487 BCE

The Festival of Dionysus is a theatrical event where every playwright compete to entertain the masses of Athenian citizenry
A large festival in honor of the god Dionysus.
Took the most talented playwrights from and around Greece.
Aeschylus did attend this festival.

Battle of Salamis

480 BCE

The battle of salamis took place in the island of Salamis where the largest naval battle ever fought in the ancient world
Aeschylus fought in the battle of Salamis on the 26th or 27th of September, where the Greek's received victory.

Tyrant of Syracuse

476 BCE

On Aeschylus's first trip, he was the personal guest of the tyrant of Syracuse and lived at the royal palace.
He wrote a tragedy in honor of the foundation of a new city on the slopes of Mount Etna.

The Persians

472 BCE

Aeschylus composed The Persians, which was about the battle of Salamis.
The focus of Persians is on the Battle of Salamis, won by the Greeks against an overwhelming Persian naval force in 480 B.C, making it 8 years before the production.
Aeschylus glorifies the victors but universalizes the horrors and terrors of one specific war.

Aeschylus Travels to Sicily

470 BCE

After being invited by Hiero I, tyrant of Syracuse, Aeschylus traveled to Sicily.
During his trip he produced The Women of Aetna and restaged his Persians.

The Dramatic Festival

468 BCE

At the Dramatic Festival, Aeschylus was defeated by Sophocles, who was then at the beginning of his career.

Seven Against Thebes

467 BCE

The tragedy 'Seven Against Thebes' has its first performance.
The theme focuses on how fate, the interference of the gods in human affairs, and the vital development of human civilization
The play contains the first passage of general reflection of life.

The Suppliants

463 BCE

The Suppliants, a tradegy written by Aeschylus is first performed.
Themes: citizenship and membership to a community as well as identity.
The Suppliants tells a story of fifty female refugees seeking asylum at a border from forced marriage and domestic violence.

The Oresteia

458 BCE

The Oresteia is a trilogy of tragic dramas/plays that Aeschylus wrote.
Consists of Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers (Choephori), and The Eumenides.
Theme: contrast between revenge and justice.
The main idea of The Oresteia is that injustice and such primitive instruments of morality as the blood-feud must be eliminated if human society is ever to attain to a high level of social organization

Prometheus Bound

457 BCE

Aeschylus tragedy Prometheus Bound is first performed.
One of the great themes of Prometheus Bound is the frustration and helplessness of reason and rightness in the face of sheer power.
Prometheus, who felt deeply betrayed by Zeus, was forced to endure the prospect of living for an eternity in isolation. It tells the story of Prometheus' own defiance of the tyranny of Zeus.

Aeschylus's Death

456 BCE

According to the Greek legend, Aeschylus met a tragic death.
One day, an eagle had caught a tortoise and mistook Aeschylus's head for a rock, so the eagle dropped the rock on Aeschylus's head and he died.

WORK CITED

2023

“Aeschylus.” Heritage History - Products, https://www.heritage-history.com/index.php?c=resources&s=char-dir&f=aeschylus.
“85 Aeschylus Facts Learn Everything about the Father of Tragedy.” Kidadl, https://kidadl.com/facts/85-aeschylus-facts-learn-everything-about-the-father-of-tragedy.

WORK CITED

2023

“Aeschylus.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aeschylus-Greek-dramatist.

“Agamemnon, the Choephori, and the Eumenides.” CliffsNotes, https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/a/agamemnon-the-choephori-and-the-eumenides/aeschylus-biography.
“Aeschylus.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Mar. 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeschylus.