The Suppliants

Aeschylus was an ancient Greek tragedian. In addition to Sophocles and Euripides, Aeschylus is the first whose ancient & classical plays still survive. Aeschylus' work is often required textbook reading in the following disciplines; English, literature & fiction, Ancient & Medieval Literature, Greek, ancient & classical, dramas & plays, tragedy, world literature, and history. Aeschylus is often described as the father of tragedy and many critics and scholars' knowledge of Greek, ancient & medieval literature, and dramas & plays begins with his work, and understanding of earlier tragedies is largely based on inferences from Aeschylus surviving plays. Among his surving plays is The Suppliants, also known as The Suppliant Women. The Suppliants is a drama & play that was first performed in 470 BC and it is the first play in a tetralogy. In The Suppliants, The Danaids flee a forced marriage to their Egyptian cousins. When the Danaids reach Argos, they entreat King Pelasgus to protect them. He refuses pending the decision of the Argive people, who decide in the favor of the Danaids. Danaus rejoices the outcome, and the Danaids praise the Greek gods. Almost immediately, a herald of the Egyptians comes to attempt to force the Danaids to return to their cousins for marriage.