About
Euripides (c. 484-480 BC – 406 BC) was the youngest of the three great Athenian tragedians, alongside Aeschylus and Sophocles. Born on Salamis, he lived in Athens, where he presented his plays at the City Dionysia. His work, influenced by the sophistic and philosophical ideas of his time, earned him the nickname 'the philosopher of the stage.' He wrote about 92 plays, of which 18 survive, including Medea, Hippolytus, The Trojan Women, and The Bacchae. During his lifetime, he won only four victories, but his posthumous popularity was immense. Around 407 BC, he went into exile at the court of King Archelaus of Macedon, where he died in 406 BC.
Major works
- Alcestis (438 BC)tragedy
- Medea (431 BC)tragedy
- Hippolytus (428 BC)tragedy
- The Trojan Women (415 BC)tragedy
- The Bacchae (405 BC)tragedy
Key milestones
- 455 BCFirst competed at the City Dionysia.
- 407 BCWent to the court of King Archelaus of Macedon.
- 406 BCDied in Macedonia.
Themes
The condition of womenWar and its horrorsMadness and passionConflicts between gods and menCritique of traditional values
Sources: assets.cambridge.org · lccn.loc.gov · catalog.perseus.org