Aeschylus

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The Father of Tragedy Sometimes referred to as Attic tragedy, Greek tragedy is a natural extension of the ancient rituals performed in honor of Dionysus. It heavily influenced the theater of ancient Rome and the Renaissance, shaping the very fabric of drama. Tragic plots were often based upon myths from the oral tradition of archaic epics, taking the form of narratives presented by skilled actors. Tragedies typically begin with a prologue, where one or more characters introduce the plot and explain the background to the ensuing story. The prologue is then followed by paraodos, after which the story unfolds, through three or more episodes. These episodes are interspersed by stasima, or choral interludes that shed light on the situation developing. The tragedy concludes with an exodus, bringing the story full circle. Who is Depicted? Aeschylus (/ˈiːskᵻləs/ or /ˈɛskᵻləs/) was a renowned ancient Greek tragedian. He is widely regarded as the father of tragedy. Scholars' understanding of the genre begins with his work, and their knowledge of earlier tragedies is largely based on inferences from his surviving plays. According to Aristotle, he expanded the number of characters in theater, allowing for conflict among them; characters previously had interacted only with the chorus. Only seven of his estimated seventy to ninety plays have survived, and there is ongoing debate regarding his authorship of one of these plays, Prometheus Bound, which some believe his son Euphorion actually wrote. Fragments of some other plays have survived in quotes, while more continue to be discovered on Egyptian papyrus, offering surprising insights into his work. He was probably the first dramatist to present plays as a trilogy; his Oresteia is the only ancient example of the form to have survived. At least one of his plays was influenced by the Persians' second invasion of Greece (480–479 BC). This work, The Persians, is the only surviving classical Greek tragedy concerned with contemporary events and a valuable source of information about its period. Aeschylus' epitaph commemorates his participation in the Greek victory at Marathon while making no mention of his success as a playwright. Despite this, Aeschylus' work – particularly the Oresteia – is widely acclaimed by modern critics and scholars. Technical/Specification about the Statue A bust is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head, neck, and a variable portion of the chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth. These forms recreate the likeness of an individual, often capturing the essence of their face and expression. A parallel term, aust, refers to a representation of the upper part of an animal or mythical creature. Sculptural portrait heads from classical antiquity are sometimes displayed as busts. However, these are often fragments from full-body statues or were created to be inserted into an existing body. More about the Artist Unfortunately, we do not know who created this piece.