Timeline: Euripides

483 BCE

Eurpides is born

Euripides is born in Athens, Greece, in 483 BCE. His mother’s name was Cleito; his father’s name was Mnesarchus or Mnesarchides His father is said to have been a tradesman or tavern-keeper, his mother a seller of herbs.

460 BCE

Education

Euripide's father was told that his son would excel and sent him off to be trained as an athlete and gymnast for the Olympic games. He would be taught painting and philosophy by Prodicus and Anaxagoras. He would come into contact with the writings of Homer and Aeschylus. (Date of education is unknown, as is most of his personal life)

455 BCE

Chosen for Dionysus Festival

The Dionysia festival was a large ancient Greek festival held in Athens to honor the god Dionysus, primarily known for its theatrical performances where tragedies and comedies were staged as a central event; it was considered one of the most important festivals in Athens. In 455 BCE Euripides has the honor of being chosen for the Dionysia festival in Athens, where he preformed his first play. He did not win though.

Period: 455 BCE to 406 BCE

Euripides begins writing plays

Euripides' playwriting is known for its deep psychological insight, complex characters, and exploration of social and moral issues. He often challenged traditional norms and portrayed gods and heroes with human flaws. His works blend tragedy with innovative elements, sometimes incorporating unexpected twists and emotionally charged dialogues.

453 BCE

Marriges

Little is known of his private life. Euripides was married to Melito and Choirile. Euripides had 4 sons in total and both his wives were unfaithful.

438 BCE

Euripides wins his first victory in the Dionysus festival

Euripides presented a set of four plays at the Dionysia festival, which included "Alcestis." This tetralogy won him his first prize at the festival.

438 BCE

Euripides write Alcestis

"Alcestis" is a play by Euripides that tells the story of King Admetus and his wife, Alcestis. Admetus is granted the chance to avoid death if someone else takes his place. Alcestis, out of love and devotion, volunteers to die for him. The play explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the human condition.

431 BCE

Euripides write Medea

Euripides' most famous work in the modern world, "Medea," tells the story of Medea's revenge on Jason after he abandons her and their children to marry another woman. Despite its lasting impact, the play only won third prize at the 431 BCE Dionysia festival.

428 BCE

Euripides write Hippolytus

Hippolytus centers on the tragic fate of Hippolytus, a young man who incurs the wrath of the goddess Aphrodite. The play examines themes of love, fate, and the destructive force of jealousy.

428 BCE

Euripides wins his second victory at the Dionysus festival

Euripides' second victory at the Dionysus festival with "Hippolytus" was a pivotal moment in his career. This victory further solidified Euripides' reputation as a masterful playwright who could captivate audiences with his compelling narratives and thought-provoking themes.

420 BCE

Euripides's diplomatic mission

In 420 BCE, Euripides participated in a diplomatic mission to Syracuse. This was his only known public activity outside of his work as a playwright. The mission aimed to strengthen alliances during a turbulent period in Greek history.

416 BCE

Genre changes

Before the shift in 416 BCE and during the last decade of his career when he began writing romantic dramas or tragicomedies with happy endings, Euripides primarily wrote traditional tragedies. These earlier works often focused on intense emotional conflicts, suffering, and the darker aspects of human experience, typical of the classical Greek tragedy genre.

415 BCE

Lyric change

Euripides' lyrics in his plays began to reflect a deeper exploration of human suffering and the consequences of war. This change is particularly evident in his play "The Trojan Women," where the choral odes and lyrical passages convey the profound grief and despair of the women of Troy. The lyrics became more poignant and emotionally charged, emphasizing the themes of loss and devastation.

415 BCE

Euripides writes Trojan Women

Euripides writes "Trojan Women," which is considered one of his greatest works. This anti-war play focuses on Hecuba, Andromache, Cassandra, and the remaining Trojan women after their city has been destroyed and their husbands killed.

415 BCE

The cave of Euripides

All is speculation about his where about as an adult. As a playwright he lived in Athens during the Peloponnesian War but later secluded himself to a cave in Salamis.

413 BCE

Electra

The play is a tragedy that focuses on the story of Electra and her brother Orestes, who seek to avenge the murder of their father, Agamemnon, killed by their mother Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus. The play explores themes of justice, revenge, and moral conflict. In the end, the siblings receive the gods' approval for their actions, but they remain burdened by the weight of their deeds.

412 BCE

Euripides write cyclops

This is a satyr play that offers a comedic twist on the story of Odysseus and his encounter with Polyphemus, the Cyclops, from Homer's "Odyssey." In this play, Odysseus and his men are captured by the Cyclops and must use their wits to escape. The play combines elements of humor and satire with the traditional myth, providing a lighter take on the heroic adventure.

408 BCE

Euripides left Athens in 408

Euripides left when he was invited to live and write in Macedonia, Greece, by Archelaus, the Macedonian king. He never returned to Athens.

406 BCE

Euripides dies

Euripides died in Macedonia after being attacked by dogs. However, some scholars believe that the harsh Macedonian winter may have been the cause of his death.

405 BCE

The Bacchae is preformed

This play was written shortly before his death, but was preformed after. The Bacchae follows the arrival of the god Dionysus in Thebes, challenging the city's ruler, Pentheus. The play delves into the dangers of denying one's true nature and the power of the divine.

405 BCE

Euripides' play "Iphigenia in Aulis" is produced

Iphigenia in Aulis is a tragedy that takes place just before the start of the Trojan War. The Greek fleet, led by Agamemnon, is stuck at Aulis because there is no wind to sail. The seer Calchas reveals that the goddess Artemis demands the sacrifice of Agamemnon's daughter, Iphigenia, to allow the winds to blow and the fleet to depart. It is one of his final works and was performed posthumously at the Dionysus festival in 405 BCE, after Euripides' death in 406 BCE.

400 BCE