Aeschylus

**Aeschylus** was an ancient Greek playwright known as the "father of tragedy." Aeschylus is one of the earliest and most influential tragedians whose surviving works set the foundation for the genre of Greek tragedy. He is best known for expanding the number of actors in a play from one to two, thereby allowing for more complex character interactions and dramatic tension. His major works include the *Oresteia* trilogy, *Prometheus Bound*, *The Persians*, *Seven Against Thebes*, and *The Suppliants*. Aeschylus’s plays often explore themes of justice, revenge, divine will, and the consequences of human actions within the scope of family dynamics and political power.

### Overview of Major Works:

1. **The Oresteia** - This trilogy consists of *Agamemnon*, *The Libation Bearers*, and *The Eumenides*. It follows the story of the House of Atreus and explores themes of justice, vengeance, and the transition from personal revenge to the establishment of civic legal systems. In *Agamemnon*, King Agamemnon returns from the Trojan War and is murdered by his wife, Clytemnestra, in revenge for the sacrifice of their daughter, Iphigenia. In *The Libation Bearers*, Agamemnon’s son, Orestes, avenges his father's death by killing Clytemnestra, leading to his persecution by the Furies. *The Eumenides* culminates in Orestes’ trial, where Athena intervenes and establishes a jury trial to replace the cycle of blood revenge, symbolizing the shift from primitive justice to rule of law.

2. **Prometheus Bound** - Although its authorship by Aeschylus is sometimes disputed, *Prometheus Bound* is traditionally attributed to him. This play depicts the Titan Prometheus bound and tortured by Zeus for giving fire to humanity. Prometheus defies Zeus, embodying themes of resistance against tyranny and the suffering associated with knowledge and progress.

3. **The Persians** - Aeschylus's *The Persians* is unique in Greek tragedy as it is based on contemporary historical events rather than mythological stories. The play portrays the Persian court’s reaction to their defeat by the Greeks at the Battle of Salamis, with Queen Atossa summoning the ghost of her late husband, Darius, who condemns his son Xerxes' actions. This play emphasizes themes of hubris and the consequences of imperial ambition.

4. **Seven Against Thebes** - This play centers around the conflict between the brothers Eteocles and Polynices, sons of Oedipus, who vie for control of Thebes. The play ends tragically with both brothers killing each other, symbolizing the destructive cycle of familial curses and civil strife.

5. **The Suppliants** - This play tells the story of the fifty daughters of Danaus, who flee from forced marriages to their Egyptian cousins and seek asylum in Argos. It explores the themes of asylum, protection, and the duties of a ruler to safeguard those in need, reflecting Aeschylus’s interest in justice and social obligations.

### Common Clues Associated with Aeschylus:

Here are the clues that appeared across multiple questions related to Aeschylus, organized by frequency and context:

1. **The Oresteia Trilogy** - Multiple questions reference Aeschylus’s *Oresteia*, specifically the trilogy of *Agamemnon*, *The Libation Bearers*, and *The Eumenides*. The trilogy is significant for its exploration of justice, revenge, and the establishment of legal systems.

2. **Clytemnestra and Agamemnon** - Questions often mention Clytemnestra's murder of Agamemnon, her husband, in the first play of the *Oresteia* trilogy, where she lures him to step on a purple carpet before killing him. This act sets off the chain of vengeance that drives the trilogy’s plot.

3. **The Furies / The Kindly Ones** - In *The Eumenides*, the Furies pursue Orestes for the murder of his mother Clytemnestra. Athena’s intervention and the Furies' transformation into the “Kindly Ones” symbolize the shift from personal vendetta to judicial systems.

4. **Prometheus Bound** - References to *Prometheus Bound* frequently highlight Prometheus's punishment by Zeus for giving fire to humanity. The play emphasizes themes of defiance against authority and suffering for the benefit of others.

5. **The Persians and Queen Atossa** - *The Persians*, the only surviving Greek tragedy based on historical events, often comes up with mentions of Queen Atossa summoning Darius’s ghost after Xerxes' defeat at Salamis. This play contrasts Greek and Persian values, particularly the concept of hubris.

6. **Seven Against Thebes and the Battle of Thebes** - Mentions of *Seven Against Thebes* usually describe the conflict between Eteocles and Polynices, both sons of Oedipus, and their mutual destruction as a result of their father’s curse.

7. **Purple Carpet** - The detail of Agamemnon stepping on a purple carpet upon his return to Mycenae is a recurring clue. This act symbolizes his hubris and foreshadows his death at the hands of Clytemnestra.

8. **Daughters of Danaus / The Suppliants** - In *The Suppliants*, Aeschylus portrays the fifty daughters of Danaus seeking asylum to avoid forced marriage. This work explores themes of refuge, protection, and civic duty, which are central to Aeschylus's moral and political worldview.

### Related Quizbowl Facts (Fill in the Blanks):

1. The *Oresteia* includes the plays *Agamemnon*, *The ___1___ Bearers, and *The Eumenides*.

2. In *The Persians*, Queen ___2___ summons the ghost of her husband Darius after Xerxes's defeat.

3. Prometheus is chained to a mountain as punishment by ___3___ in *Prometheus Bound*.

4. In *Seven Against Thebes*, Eteocles and ___4___, the sons of Oedipus, kill each other in battle.

5. Agamemnon steps on a ___5___ carpet upon his return, symbolizing his hubris.

6. Athena renames the Furies as the “___6___ Ones” at the end of *The Eumenides*.

7. The play *The Suppliants* involves the fifty daughters of ___7___ seeking asylum in Argos.

### Fill-in-the-Blanks Answers:

1. Libation

2. Atossa

3. Zeus

4. Polynices

5. purple

6. Kindly

7. Danaus

Repeated clues and references in the Aeschylus questions:

1. **Purple Carpet** - 10 occurrences

   - The purple carpet scene in *Agamemnon* is frequently mentioned, symbolizing Agamemnon's hubris as he returns home and foreshadowing his murder by Clytemnestra.

2. **Orestes' Trial and Furies** - 10 occurrences

   - The trial of Orestes, where Athena acquits him and renames the Furies as the "Kindly Ones" (Eumenides), appears repeatedly in references to *The Eumenides*, the third play of the *Oresteia* trilogy.

3. **Battle of Salamis** - 9 occurrences

   - The Battle of Salamis is central to Aeschylus's *The Persians*, where Queen Atossa learns of Xerxes’ defeat. This historic battle is mentioned frequently in questions about his works.

4. **Atossa's Dream** - 8 occurrences

   - Atossa’s dream in *The Persians*, in which she envisions her son Xerxes yoking two women, is a recurring clue. This scene often serves as a foreshadowing of Xerxes’ downfall.

5. **Prometheus Bound (Kratos and Bia)** - 7 occurrences

   - In *Prometheus Bound*, the scene where Kratos (Power) and Bia (Force) chain Prometheus to a rock is commonly cited, along with Prometheus’ interactions with Io and his defiance against Zeus.

6. **Clytemnestra’s Murder of Agamemnon** - 7 occurrences

   - Clytemnestra’s murder of Agamemnon, often in a bathtub, is a major plot point in *Agamemnon*, and frequently referenced in descriptions of the *Oresteia* trilogy.

7. **Ghost of Darius** - 6 occurrences

   - In *The Persians*, Darius's ghost is summoned by Atossa and rebukes Xerxes for his hubris. This supernatural appearance and condemnation appear frequently in questions about Aeschylus.

8. **Seven Against Thebes (Eteocles and Polynices)** - 6 occurrences

   - The conflict between Eteocles and Polynices in *Seven Against Thebes*, where they end up killing each other, is a repeated reference, often highlighting the theme of familial strife.

9. **Snake Dream** - 6 occurrences

   - Clytemnestra’s dream of giving birth to a snake, interpreted as a foreshadowing of Orestes' return and revenge, is commonly cited in questions about the *Oresteia* trilogy.

10. **Danaids (Fifty Daughters of Danaus)** - 5 occurrences

    - The plight of the Danaids, the fifty daughters of Danaus fleeing forced marriages, is a key element in *The Suppliants* and referenced across multiple questions.

11. **Cassandra’s Prophecy and Death** - 5 occurrences

    - Cassandra's prophecy about her own murder and that of Agamemnon in *Agamemnon* is a frequently mentioned tragic moment in the *Oresteia* trilogy.

12. **Pylades Encouraging Orestes** - 5 occurrences

    - Pylades' encouragement of Orestes to fulfill Apollo’s command and kill Clytemnestra in *The Libation Bearers* is a repeated detail in questions about the *Oresteia*.

These recurring references highlight major plot points, character interactions, and themes across Aeschylus's works, particularly the *Oresteia* trilogy and *The Persians*.