AESCHYLUS Persians
A ghost summoned with bizarre rituals from the underworld,
the elaborate protocol of the Persian court, desperate lamentation,
self-mutilation, and a thrilling eye-witness account of the battle
of Salamis these are some of the features of Aeschylus'
Persians which make it one of the most exciting examples
of ancient theatre. As the earliest surviving European drama it
is of incalculable interest to students of ancient literature:
as the only extended account of the Persian wars by an author
who fought in them, it is a unique document of the Athenian historical
imagination. In this, the first English language edition of the
text with a commentary for thirty-five years, the particular focus
is on the visual and aural effects Aeschylus created, his extraordinarily
rich imagery, and the play's unique contribution to Athenian democratic
ideology.
Edith Hall is fellow in Classics at Somerville College,
Oxford, and the author of numerous publications on Greek literature
and society, including Inventing the Barbarian: Greek Self-Definition
Through Tragedy.
208pp. (1996) cl 596 8 £35 / $59.99, pb 597 6 £16.50
/ $28
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CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
INTRODUCTION
1. Remember Athens
2. Aeschylus
3. Persians and Historical 'Reality'
4. Historical Tragedy
5. History and Myth
6. The Tetralogy
7. Political perspective
8. Aeschylus' Sources
9. Religion
10. Persians as Tragedy
11. Visual and Aural Dimensions
12. Imagery
13. Style and Language
14. The Text
Illustrations
PARALLEL GREEK TEXT AND ENGLISH TRANSLATION
COMMENTARY
Metrical Appendix
Abbreviations and Bibliography
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SOME COMMENTS BY REVIEWERS
"Hall's remarkable new edition of the Persians ....
This edition is the most up-to-date scholarly text of Persians
now available. Scholars teachers, and students will appreciate
in particular Hall's careful and complete research, evidenced
in the excellent introduction, commentary and bibliography as
well as in the translation itself; ... An excellent text for Western
tradition, history and literature courses. Highly recommended
for all academic collections." Choice "In short
and admirable edition almost convincing that Persians is
a good play as well as a useful historical source!" LACT
RELATED BOOKS
Aeschylus Eumenides, the plays of Euripides and Sophocles