History Creator / Aeschylus

He wrote at least seventy dramas, seven of which survive, and five [[SatyrPlay satyr plays]], none of which did. Of his seventy plays, he won first prize for thirteen of them in the Dionysia (an ancient Greek festival that honored Dionysius. The central events were the performances of plays). He is credited with several major innovations in writing for the stage at the time, like the practice of having multiple actors with speaking parts. Previously, the usual format had been to have a GreekChorus telling the story, with a single actor playing the parts of individual characters, swapping between them as required. The addition of a second actor opened up the dramatic possibilities; with two speaking characters on stage at a time, characters could for the first time be shown interacting with each other.

Aeschylus also served as a soldier during the Persian Wars, partaking in the battles of Marathon and Salamis (possibly Plataea as well). His oldest surviving play, ''The Persians'', is set during the Wars; it is said to have been heavily plagiarized from Phrynichus' tragedy ''The Phœnician women'' played four years before.

Aeschylus also served as a soldier during the Persian Wars, partaking in the battles of Marathon, Salamis, and Plataea. His oldest surviving play, ''The Persians'', is set during the Wars, and was the first Greek tragedy to be set during recent history instead of in far-off mythical times.

He is said to have died when eagle dropped a tortoise on him from a great height, thinking that his bald head was a stone that would crack the tortoise open.

He is said to have died when eagle [[DroppedABridgeOnHim dropped a tortoise on him]] from a great height, thinking that his bald head was a stone that would crack the tortoise open.

Of the seven extant plays, ''Prometheus Bound'' was traditionally attributed to Aeschylus, but its authorship is in doubt. However, the issue of Zeus' characterization can be reconciled with Aeschylus' authorship by evidence that the Prometheia (the full cycle) involved character development for Zeus.

-->''"With regard to the simplicity of his dramatic composition, if one were to judge him in relation to the playwrights who succeeded him, one would find him unsophisticated and lacking elaboration, but if one were to judge him in relation to those who preceded him, one would marvel at the poet’s ingenuity and inventiveness. Anyone who thinks that Sophocles was the more perfect tragic poet, is right to do so, but should consider that it was far more difficult for a playwright who succeeded Thespis, Phrynichus and Choerilus to bring tragedy to such greatness than for a successor of Aeschylus to reach even the perfection of Sophocles."''
-->--Anonymous, Life of Aeschylus

Aeschylus (Αισχύλος, ''Aischylos'', circa 525/524 – circa 456/455 BC) was an ancient Greek playwright (5th century BC), the earliest Greek tragedian whose plays have survived to the present. He won multiple awards, and is credited with several major innovations in writing for the stage, including the practice of [[YouHaveResearchedBreathing having multiple actors with speaking parts]]. Previously, the usual format had been to have a GreekChorus telling the story, with a single actor playing the parts of individual characters, swapping between them as required. The addition of a second actor opened up the dramatic possibilities: with two speaking characters on stage at a time, characters could for the first time be shown interacting with each other.

Aeschylus also served as a soldier during the Persian Wars (an aspect of his life that gets more space on his gravestone than his literary achievements - which is to say, any space at all). His oldest surviving play, ''The Persians'', is set during the Wars, and was the first Greek tragedy to be set during recent history instead of in far-off mythical times.

There is a persistent legend that Aeschylus was killed when an eagle [[DroppedABridgeOnHim dropped a tortoise on him]] from a great height, thinking that his bald head was a stone that would crack the tortoise open.

Six of his plays are known to survive complete:

** ''Theatre/{{Eumenides}}''.

Another surviving tragedy, ''Theatre/PrometheusBound'' (''Promētheus Desmōtēs''), was attributed to Aeschylus in ancient times, but its authorship is now in doubt. However, the issue of Zeus' characterization can be reconciled with Aeschylos' authorship by evidence that the Prometheia (the full cycle) involved character development for Zeus.

* GenreTurningPoint: Was the first to include a second principal actor, and shifted much of the plot development to the dialogue.

* ValuesDissonance: In an extant fragment of ''[[SatyrPlay The Net Fishers]]'', an infant Perseus masturbates a satyr. Stress on "infant".

Another surviving tragedy, ''Theatre/PrometheusBound'' (''Promētheus Desmōtēs''), was attributed to Aeschylus in ancient times, but its authorship is now in doubt.

* GenreTurningPoint
* GreekChorus

* ''ThePersians'' (''Persai'')
* ''SevenAgainstThebes'' (''Hepta epi Thēbas'')

Aeschylus (Αισχύλος, ''Aischylos'') was an ancient Greek playwright (5th century BC), the earliest Greek tragedian whose plays have survived to the present. He won multiple awards, and is credited with several major innovations in writing for the stage, including the practice of [[YouHaveResearchedBreathing having multiple actors with speaking parts]]. Previously, the usual format had been to have a GreekChorus telling the story, with a single actor playing the parts of individual characters, swapping between them as required. The addition of a second actor opened up the dramatic possibilities: with two speaking characters on stage at a time, characters could for the first time be shown interacting with each other.

Aeschylus also served as a soldier during the Persian Wars (an aspect of his life that gets more space on his gravestone than his literary achievements). His oldest surviving play, ''The Persians'', is set during the Wars, and was the first Greek tragedy to be set during recent history instead of in far-off mythical times.

* TheMagnificentSevenSamurai: ''Seven Against Thebes'' which is nothing less than the UrExample... *and* a spectacular inversion. Unlike the typical story featuring this trope, the Seven were the invaders of the settlement, brought an army each, were unashamedly the villains since the play centers on the city's defenders, and lost. However, since there were also seven defenders the "Seven For Thebes" can probably be considered an example of this being played straight.

* TheMagnificentSevenSamurai: ''Seven Against Thebes'' which is nothing less than the UrExample .... *and* a spectacular inversion. Unlike the typical story featuring this trope, the Seven were the invaders of the settlement, brought an army each, were unashamedly the villains since the play centers on the city's defenders, and lost. However, since there were also seven defenders the "Seven For Thebes" can probably be considered an example of this being played straight.

Aeschylus (Αισχύλος, ''Aischylos'') was an ancient Greek playwright (5th century BC), the earliest Greek tragedian whose plays have survived to the present. He won multiple awards, and is credited with several major innovations in writing for the stage, including the practice of having multiple actors with speaking parts. Previously, the usual format had been to have a GreekChorus telling the story, with a single actor playing the parts of individual characters, swapping between them as required. The addition of a second actor opened up the dramatic possibilities: with two speaking characters on stage at a time, characters could for the first time be shown interacting with each other.

* ''TheSuppliants'' (''Hiketides'')

* TheMagnificentSevenSamurai: ''Seven Against Thebes'' which is nothing less than the UrExample .... *and* a spectacular inversion. Unlike the typical story featuring this trope, the Seven were the invaders of the settlement, brought an army each, and lost.

* TheMagnificentSevenSamurai: ''Seven Against Thebes'' (the UrExample)

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