Persians
Aeschylus' tragedy dramatising the Persian defeat at the Battle of Salamis from the Persian perspective
The Meaning of Persians
The Persians, performed in 472 BCE, is the oldest surviving Greek play and the only extant tragedy based on historical rather than mythological events. Set in the Persian capital of Susa, the drama opens with a chorus of Persian elders anxiously awaiting news of King Xerxes' invasion of Greece. A messenger arrives with a devastating account of the naval battle at Salamis, describing in vivid detail how the Greek fleet lured the vast Persian armada into the narrow strait and destroyed it. The ghost of Darius, Xerxes' dead father, is summoned from his tomb and condemns his son's hubris in attempting to bridge the Hellespont and conquer Greece — offences against both divine order and natural boundaries. Finally, Xerxes himself returns in rags, and the play closes with a lament for the fallen. Aeschylus, who himself fought at Salamis, crafted a work that celebrates Greek victory while showing genuine compassion for Persian suffering.
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Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
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