Aeschylus

@Greek Tragedian, Birthday and Family

Aeschylus was an eminent Greek tragedian

525 BC

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Biography

Personal Details

  • Birthday: 525 BC
  • Nationality: Greek
  • Famous: Greek Tragedian, Writers, Poets, Playwrights
  • Childrens: Euaeon, Euphorion
  • Birth Place: Eleusis
  • Gender: Male
  • Father: Euphorion

Aeschylus born at

Eleusis

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Birth Place

He married and was blessed with two sons, Euphorion and Euaeon. Interestingly, both his sons became tragic poets. Euphorion outdid Sophocles and Euripidesin and won the first prize in a competition.

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Personal Life

Aeschylus’ nephew, was also a tragic poet, and won first prize in the competition against Sophocles' Oedipus Rex.

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Personal Life

His last visit to Sicily was in 458 BC. During this visit, he explored the city of Gela. It was during this time that he breathed his last. If the legends are to be believed, he met his death when an eagle mistook his bald head for a rock and dropped a tortoise on it. He breathed his last in 456 BC

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Personal Life

Not much is known about the life of Aeschylus or the exact date as to when was he born. However, it is believed that he was born in 525 BC in Eleusis, a small town which is located northwest of Athens.

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Childhood & Early Life

Born in a wealthy and affluent family, he was fathered by Euphorion, a member of the Eupatridae, the ancient nobility of Attica.

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Childhood & Early Life

During his early years, young Aeschylus worked at the vineyard. According to 2nd-century AD geographer Pausanias, God Dionysus visited Aeschylus in his sleep and instructed him to concentrate his energy and focus his attention on the nascent art of tragedy. Stirred by the dream, he woke up suddenly and started writing a tragedy.

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Later Life

Meanwhile in 510 BC, Cleisthenes assumed power after Cleomenes I expelled the sons of Peisistratus from Athens. He brought in new reforms according to which a system of registration was applied that emphasized the importance of the deme over family tradition.

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Later Life

The Persian war greatly influenced his life and career. In 490 BC, he along with his brother Cynegeirus fought to defend Athens against Darius I at the Battle of Marathon.

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Later Life

The battle turned in favour of the Athenians. Though there was joy all around, the death of his brother Cynegeirus while trying to prevent a Persian ship retreating from the shore caused much pain and grief to him.

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Later Life

He resumed his military duties in 480 BC when he received a call to fight against Xerxes I's invading forces at the Battle of Salamis. He rendered his services to the Battle of Plataea as well in 479 BC.

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Later Life

This Greek tragedian and playwright is popularly remembered as the ‘Father of Tragedy’.

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Trivia