AESCHYLUS


*AI)SXU/LOS, son of Euphorion of Eleusis c.525 to 455BC

 Aeschylus was born to a prominent family at Eleusis. He fought in the Persian Wars, likely including the battles of Marathon and Salamis. He may have been initiated in the Eleusinian Mysteries. He first entered tragic competitions around the beginning of the fifth century and first won in 484BC. Hiero I, tyrant of Syracuse, brought him to Sicily c.472-68. Aeschylus came back to Athens but again left for Sicily in 458, and died near Gela c.455.

 Aeschylus seems to have written some 90 plays. Only the seven below survive under his name. A few fragments of others survive, including of the satyr-play *DIKTUOULKOI/ (Dictyulci ) Netfishers. In chronological order, the seven complete plays run as follows:

Greek title (beta code) Latin title English title Date and production (if relatively certain)
*PE/RSAI Persae Persians produced 472BC
and revived for Hiero during Aeschylus' stay there.
*E(/PTA KATA\ *QH=BAS Septem contra Thebas Seven against Thebes produced 467BC
Third in a trilogy which originally included Laius and Oedipus.
*I(KE/TIDES Supplices Suppliants produced c.463BC
First in a trilogy which originally included Egyptians and Danaids.
*O)RESTEI/A
*A)GAME/MNWN
*XOHFO/ROI
*EU)MENI/DES		 Oresteia Agamemnon
Choephori
Eumenides		 Oresteia
Agamemnon
Libation Bearers
Eumenides		 produced in 458BC
The only surviving complete trilogy
*PROMHQEU/S DESMW/THS Prometheus Vinctus Prometheus Bound Perhaps the first of a trilogy which originally included Prometheus Unbound and Prometheus the Fire-Carrier. The date is unknown and some believe the play is not by Aeschylus. 

   
   
   
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