Aeschylus

@Greek Tragedian, Birthday and Family ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Aeschylus was an eminent Greek tragedian Greek Writers Poets Playwrights Aeschylus was a Greek tragedian who gave his life to dramatic arts. He laid the foundation and groundwork that was required for the art to flourish in the world. While he served as the initiator, Sophocles and Euripides took over as his notable successors. Till date, the works of the trio, Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides survive and can be read or performed. Aeschylus often referred to as the father of tragedy, was truly the founder of Greek tragedy. It is through his works that the basic understanding of the earlier tragedies was developed. His plays have been serving as the point of reference till date. At the time when Aeschylus began writing, theatre was just about evolving. Plays performed then were just about choral poetry supplemented with expressive dance. Aeschylus not just worked on the genre but brought about new theme by introducing a second actor in the play in the form of chorus. In his lifetime, he is said to have written about ninety plays of which only seven survive till date. Nevertheless, these seven plays help in the basic understanding of earlier tragedies.

Personal Details

Birthday: 525 BC Nationality: Greek Famous: Greek Tragedian, Writers, Poets, Playwrights Childrens: Euaeon, Euphorion Birth Place: Eleusis Gender: Male Father: Euphorion Information Detail Birthday 525 BC Nationality Greek Famous Greek Tragedian, Writers, Poets, Playwrights Childrens Euaeon, Euphorion Birth Place Eleusis Gender Male Father Euphorion Born in Eleusis Famous as Greek Tragedian Died at Age 69

Eleusis

Aeschylus born at Unsplash 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. Unsplash Personal Life

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

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

Information	Detail
Birthday	525 BC
Nationality	Greek
Famous	Greek Tragedian, Writers, Poets, Playwrights
Childrens	Euaeon, Euphorion
Birth Place	Eleusis
Gender	Male
Father	Euphorion
Born in	Eleusis
Famous as	Greek Tragedian
Died at Age	69

Aeschylus

Greek

525 BC

Biography

Personal Details

Eleusis