The Persians. By Aeschylus. Full Audiobook
"The Persians" is a play written by Aeschylus, the father of Greek tragedy, and is the oldest surviving example of the genre. The play was written and first performed in 472 BC and is based on the Greco-Persian wars, in which Aeschylus himself fought. The play is unique among surviving tragedies in that it dramatizes recent history rather than events from the distant age of mythical heroes. The play is set in the Persian capital, Susa, and depicts the aftermath of King Xerxes' disastrous military invasion of Greece. The play's chorus, Persian courtiers who are trusted advisors of the king and royal family, sets the scene, describing the vast array of warriors that followed Xerxes into battle. Xerxes' mother, Queen Atossa, beseeches the chorus for advice. She had a portentous dream and is concerned about the well-being of her son. In the dream, Xerxes attempted to harness two giant women, one Greek and one Persian, to his chariot, only to be thrown from his seat. After the dream, Atossa witnessed a hawk attacking an eagle. The chorus comforts her, advising her to pour out libations in honor of her husband, the deceased King Darius the Great. One of Xerxes' soldiers delivers a message that confirms Atossa's worst fears: The Persian army was decimated. The play is a powerful meditation on the nature of power, the consequences of hubris, and the fragility of human life. It is a must-read for anyone interested in ancient Greek literature and history.
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