Aeschylus – Complete Tragedies

Aeschylus is often called the father of Greek tragedy. The earliest of the three great Athenian tragedians, he transformed drama from a choral performance into a powerful form of storytelling, introducing innovations that shaped the history of theatre for centuries to come. His plays explore justice, divine law, war, vengeance, freedom, and the relationship between gods and mortals, combining poetic grandeur with profound philosophical insight.

This collection brings together all seven surviving tragedies of Aeschylus, each presented in its own volume.

• Persians – The oldest surviving Greek tragedy, depicting the Persian court’s reaction to its defeat at the Battle of Salamis and offering a rare dramatic perspective from the defeated side of history.
• Seven Against Thebes – A dramatic retelling of the final conflict between the sons of Oedipus, exploring civil war, family curses, and the tragic consequences of ambition.
• Suppliant Women – The story of the Danaids, who seek refuge in Argos to escape forced marriage, raising timeless questions about asylum, justice, and political responsibility.
• Agamemnon – The first play of the Oresteia, portraying the victorious king’s return from Troy and the revenge awaiting him at home.
• Libation Bearers (Choephori) – The second play of the Oresteia, in which Orestes returns to avenge his father, confronting the conflict between justice, revenge, and moral duty.
• Eumenides – The final play of the Oresteia, depicting the trial of Orestes in Athens and the transformation of vengeance into the rule of law, one of the foundational moments in the history of justice.
• Prometheus Bound – The story of the Titan Prometheus, punished by Zeus for giving fire to humanity, becoming an enduring symbol of resistance, sacrifice, and the pursuit of knowledge.
• Fragments – The surviving remains of Aeschylus’ lost plays, preserved through quotations, papyri, and ancient manuscripts, offering a rare glimpse into masterpieces that have otherwise disappeared.

Together, these tragedies chart the evolution of justice from personal vengeance to civic law, while exploring humanity’s relationship with divine power, moral responsibility, and political order. They remain among the foundational works of Western drama and continue to inspire readers, scholars, and theatre audiences around the world.

About This Edition

This complete edition presents all seven surviving tragedies of Aeschylus in seven volumes, allowing each play to be appreciated as an individual masterpiece while revealing the development of Aeschylus’ dramatic vision.

Each volume includes:

• The original Ancient Greek text
• A Modern Greek translation on facing pages
• A scholarly introduction
• Detailed commentary and explanatory notes

Ideal for students, educators, researchers, and lovers of Ancient Greek literature, this edition combines philological accuracy with readability, offering direct access to the earliest surviving masterpieces of Greek tragedy.

About Aeschylus

Aeschylus (c. 525/524–456/455 BC) was the earliest of the three great tragedians of Classical Athens and is widely regarded as the founder of Greek tragedy. A veteran of the Battles of Marathon and probably Salamis, he brought the experience of war, civic duty, and religious belief into his dramatic works, giving them a grandeur unmatched in ancient literature.

Ancient sources attribute between seventy and ninety plays to Aeschylus, although only seven survive in complete form. His dramas combine powerful poetry with profound reflections on justice, divine order, political authority, and human responsibility. His masterpiece, the Oresteia, remains one of the greatest achievements in the history of theatre.

Today, Aeschylus continues to be studied and performed worldwide. His tragedies are recognized not only as literary masterpieces but also as foundational works in the development of drama, law, political thought, and the enduring exploration of justice and human destiny.