Early Tragedy: Aeschylus and theAgamemnon

Abstract

Aeschylus was born about 525 B.C., and his early life covered a time of vital importance to Athens both at home and abroad. In the city itself the autocratic rule of the tyrants was overthrown and a democracy established which increased in power and efficiency throughout his lifetime. The turn of the century brought Persian invasion, the destruction of much that was best and most sacred in old Athens, and the wonderful defeat of the foreign armies by Athens and her allies. Then followed a period of prosperity and reconstruction in which Athens used tribute collected ostensibly to prepare against future Persian invasions to build new monuments and temples to replace those that had been lost. The arts were cultivated, and the theatre shared in this renaissance.