The Persians: the story on HearLore

The Persians

Aeschylus presented The Persians at Athens' City Dionysia festival in 472 BC. Pericles served as the choregos for this production. This event marked the first time a play about contemporary history won first prize. The performance took place just eight years after Aeschylus fought at Salamis. He may have even participated in that naval battle himself. The play stands as the oldest surviving piece of ancient Greek drama. It remains his only complete tragedy from the Classical period.

Dreams And The Messenger

Atossa narrates what is probably the first dream sequence in European theatre. An exhausted messenger arrives to describe the Battle of Salamis. He details the gory outcome and names the Persian generals who died. Xerxes had escaped and was returning home. The Greeks charged with a specific battle cry. Atossa asks the chorus to summon the ghost of her dead husband Darius. Darius condemns the hubris behind his son's decision to invade Greece. He rebukes the impious bridge built over the Hellespont. The ghost prophesies another defeat at Plataea in 479 BC. Xerxes finally arrives dressed in torn robes. Grief swarms around him as he wears tatters and rags.

Sympathy Versus Victory

Scholars debate whether the text sympathizes with Persians or celebrates Greek victory. Phrynichus wrote two plays about the Persians before Aeschylus. His Sack of Miletus won a fine for emphasizing Athens' abandonment of its colony. The sympathetic school finds weight in Aristotelian criticism. Every other extant Greek tragedy invites an audience's sympathy for characters on stage. The celebratory school argues the play fits a xenophobic culture. They claim it would be difficult to sympathize with a hated enemy during war. Xerxes calls his pains a joy to his enemies. The Persian Wars did not formally conclude until 449 BC with the Peace of Callias.

When was Aeschylus The Persians first performed at Athens' City Dionysia festival?

Aeschylus presented The Persians at Athens' City Dionysia festival in 472 BC. This event marked the first time a play about contemporary history won first prize.

What historical battle did Aeschylus fight in eight years before writing The Persians?

The performance took place just eight years after Aeschylus fought at Salamis. He may have even participated in that naval battle himself.

Who is the character Atossa in Aeschylus The Persians and what does she do?

Atossa narrates what is probably the first dream sequence in European theatre. She asks the chorus to summon the ghost of her dead husband Darius.

Did the Persian Wars formally conclude until 449 BC with the Peace of Callias?

The Persian Wars did not formally conclude until 449 BC with the Peace of Callias. Xerxes had escaped and was returning home while the Greeks charged with a specific battle cry.

Which modern production of Aeschylus The Persians responded to the Gulf War of 1990, 1991?

Peter Sellars directed a 1993 production responding to the Gulf War of 1990, 1991. Hamza El Din composed and performed the music for this version.

The Persians

Dreams And The Messenger

Sympathy Versus Victory

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Common questions

When was Aeschylus The Persians first performed at Athens' City Dionysia festival?

What historical battle did Aeschylus fight in eight years before writing The Persians?

Who is the character Atossa in Aeschylus The Persians and what does she do?

Did the Persian Wars formally conclude until 449 BC with the Peace of Callias?

Which modern production of Aeschylus The Persians responded to the Gulf War of 1990, 1991?

Syracuse And Ancient Audiences

Gulf War And Modern Staging

Echoes In Literature