Euripides: Suppliant Women (Aris and Phillips Classical Texts)

First produced in the 420s BC, Suppliant Women centres around the actions of Theseus, King of Athens, who is persuaded by the Chorus of bereaved mothers to attack Thebes in order to obtain burial for their sons. The range of the play's debate is astonishing. It contains one of the Ur-texts of political theory. It explores social and religious themes. It deals with the concept of a just war, with the family, and with the role and behaviour of women. Above all it sets before us the education of Theseus, showing us movingly how this great hero is transformed into a great man. Contents 7 General Editor’s Foreword 9 Editor’s Preface 11 Introduction 13 1. Plot, themes and motifs 13 2. Politics and character 17 3a. King Theseus and democratic Athens 20 3b. Theseus, Herakles and Kimon 23 4. Athenian funeral encomia and Adrastos’ oration 26 5. The play’s geography 29 5a. Eleusis 29 5b. Thebes 32 5c. Argos 34 6. The myth and its reception 35 7. Date 38 8. The text and translation 42 Editorial symbols employed in Greek and translation 44 Bibliography and Abbreviations for Suppliant Women 45 Map: The Greece of the play 48 Suppliant Women 49 Commentary 155 Appendix: The Argive Women and Athenian mourning legislation 253 General Bibliography for Euripides 257 Index 269 Introduction. Plot, Themes And Motifs ; Politics And Character ; King Theseus And Democratic Athens ; Theseus, Herakles And Kimon ; Athenian Funeral Encomia And Adrastos' Oration ; The Play's Geography ; Eleusis ; Thebes ; Argos ; The Myth And Its Reception ; Date ; The Text And Translation -- Bibliography And Abbreviations For Suppliant Women -- Map : The Greece Of The Play -- Suppliant Women -- Commentary -- Appendix : The Argive Women And Athenian Mourning Legislation -- General Bibliography For Euripedes. Euripides ; With Introduction, Translation And Commentary By James Morwood. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [245]-256) And Index. Translated From The Ancient Greek. A group of Argive women has come to Eleusis to ask King Theseus and his city of Athens to bring about the burial of their sons who are being denied it by their Theban conquerors. Theseus is confronted with a challenge which at first he declines to take up, but then does so magnificently. The range of the play's debate is astonishing. It contains one of the Ur-texts of political theory. It explores social and religious themes. It deals with the concept of a just war, with the family, and with the role and behavior of women. Above all it sets before us the education of Theseus, showing us movingly how this great hero is transformed into a great man