AESCHYLUS V

— Allen J. Romano, allenjromano@gmail.com

Week 5: Innovation

Tetralogies

#1.0

Myth and Innovation

#1.1

Agamemnon

#1.2

Libation Bearers

#2.1

"Eumenides"

#2.2

What Modern Theater Hides

#2.3

1.0 Tetralogies

3 known connected tetralogies:

Laius, Oedipus, Seven Against Thebes, Sphinx
The Oresteia: Agamemnon, Choephori, Eumenides, Proteus
Edonoi, Bassaridae, Neoniskoi, Lykurgos

8 suspected:
Egyptians, Suppliants, Danaids, Amymone
+ 7 others

Tetralogies = 3 tragedies + satyr play

Oresteia

458 BCE, 1st prize

484 BCE

Aeschylus First Victory

472

Persians

468

Sophocles' First competition

?463

Suppliants

467

Seven Against Thebes

458

Oresteia

1.1 Myth and Innovation

note: this "Plouto" is a woman, not = Hades

Tantalus

An imp

note: this "Plouto" is a woman, not = Hades

Pelops

Also cursed

note: this "Plouto" is a woman, not = Hades

Atreus and Thyestes

Third time's a charm

note: this "Plouto" is a woman, not = Hades

Death Mask of "Agamemnon"

Not Clytemnestra's Bath (but bronze age, Pylos)

"Treasury of Atreus" = big tholos tomb @Mycenae

1.2 Agamemnon

2.1 Choephori

aka "Libation Bearers"

2.2 "Eumenides"

aka Furies (Erinyes), Semnai Theai (= "Blessed Goddess")

2.3 What Modern Theater Hides