The Beginning and the End of Aeschylus’ Danaid Trilogy

Zusammenfassung

Once upon a time, not very long ago, many of us thought we knew, in general terms, the structure and content of the trilogy by Aeschylus of which The Suppliants is the only part that survives. The production had consisted of The Suppliants, The Egyptians and The Danaids, with the satyr-play Amymone. The surviving play portrayed the arrival at Argos of Danaos and his daughters, in flight from Egypt and the threat of a forced marriage with their cousins, the sons of Aigyptos; the acceptance of their supplication by the Argive king and people; the arrival in pursuit of the sons of Aigyptos, with an army; the attempt by the herald of this army to seize the Danaids, his confrontation with the Argive king, and his declaration of war; and ended with the Danaids and their father leaving for the city with an armed escort. It was known, from many other accounts of the legend, that in the end the Danaids were after all compelled to marry the sons of Aigyptos, and that on the wedding-night all but one of the bridegrooms were murdered by their brides.

Versions of this paper have been presented to seminars at the Universities of Dusseldorf and Trier. I am mostgrateful to Prof. B. Zimmermann and Prof. M. Lossau for inviting meto make thesepresentations.