- AESCHYLUS AND HIS TRAGEDIES
- This document was originally published in The Drama: Its History, Literature and Influence on Civilization, vol. 1 . ed. Alfred Bates. London: Historical Publishing Company, 1906. pp. 53-59.
- Purchase Plays by Aeschylus
This tomb the dust of Aeschylus doth hide, - Euphorion's son and fruitful Gela's pride;
- How tried his valor Marathon may tell,
- And long-haired Medes, who knew it all too well.
In a trilogy, or set of three connected plays, of which only his survives, he celebrated the glorious contests which he had witnessed, and for this also he gained the prize. Though defeated by Sophocles at his first attempt, the veteran Aeschylus regained his position with the series of which Seven Against Thebes was a part, and thenceforth his supremacy was undisputed. The real "father of tragedy" Aeschylus has been justly termed, certainly deserving this title far more than Thespis, for he it was who, as Aristophanes says, "first decked out tragedy with magificence." - Improvements Introduced by Aeschylus
- Many were the improvements which Aeschylus introduced, especially in diminishing the importance of the chorus and in adding a second actor, thus giving prominence to the dialogue and making it the leading feature of the play. He removed all deeds of bloodshed from the public view, and in their place provided many spectacular elements, improving the costumes, making the masks more expressive and convenient, and probably adopting the cothurnus to increase the stature of the performers. Finally, he established the custom of contending for the prize with trilogies, or series of three independent dramas.
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