Aeschylus
Aeschylus
Aeschyluswas an ancient Greek tragedian. His plays, alongside those of Sophocles and Euripides, are the only works of Classical Greek literature to have survived. He is often described as the father of tragedy: critics and scholars' knowledge of the genre begins with his work, and understanding of earlier tragedies is largely based on inferences from his surviving plays. According to Aristotle, he expanded the number of characters in theater to allow conflict among them, whereas characters previously had interacted only...
NationalityGreek
ProfessionPoet
men afterlife justice
For Hades is mighty in calling men to account below the earth, and with a mind that records in tablets he surveys all things.
feet evil offence
Truly upon mortals cometh swift of foot their evil and his offence upon him that trespasseth against Right.
rain heaven demeter
The holy heaven yearns to wound the earth, and yearning layeth hold on the earth to join in wedlock; the rain, fallen from the amorous heaven, impregnates the earth, and it bringeth forth for mankind the food of flocks and herds and Demeter's gifts; and from that moist marriage-rite the woods put on their bloom.
men sky proud
Lustre of man walking proud beneath the sky diminishes to nothing and goes unregarded.
truth lying lips
For the lips of Zeus do not know how to lie, but bring to fulfilment every word.
speech might tongue
When a tongue fails to send forth appropriate shafts, there might be a word to act as healer of these.
heart blow wind
For in the voyage of the heart, there is a freight of hatred, and the wind of wrath blows shrill.
eye knowing bed
For in pure maidens, knowing not the marriage-bed, the glance of the eyes sinks from shame.
clouds shadow passing
The seed of mortals broods o'er passing things, and hath nought surer than the smoke-cloud's shadow.
death men blood
But when once the earth has sucked up a dead man's blood, there is no way to raise him up.
freedom zeus knows
For know that no one is free, except Zeus.
truth lying men
Oaths are not the credit of men but men of oaths.
children soul arrogance
Arrogance is truly the child of impiety, but from health of soul comes happiness, dear to all, much prayed for.
men blood dust
But when the dust has drunk the blood of men, no resurrection comes for one who's dead.