Aeschylus

The founder of Greek tragedy, who fought at Marathon and put a second actor on the stage.

Specifications & Metrics

era

c. 525/524 – 456/455 BC

language

Ancient Greek

region

Athens (Eleusis-born)

notable works

The Oresteia, The Persians, Prometheus Bound, Seven Against Thebes

Core Principles & Analysis

• He fought in the Persian Wars; his epitaph mentions Marathon, not his plays.
• He is credited with introducing the second actor, expanding drama beyond the chorus.
• Seven of his perhaps seventy or more plays survive.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Aeschylus