The Major Dramatists of the Athenian
Aeschylus
The "Father of Tragedy," Aeschylus was born in 525 B.C. in the
city of Eleusis. Immersed early in the mystic rites of the city and in
the worship of the Mother and Earth goddess Demeter, he was
once sent as a child to watch grapes ripening in the countryside.
According to Aeschylus, when he dozed off, Dionysus appeared to
him in a dream and ordered him to write tragedies. The obedient
young Aeschylus began a tragedy the next morning and "succeeded
very easily."
When Aeschylus first began writing, the theatre had only just
begun to evolve. Plays were little more than animated oratorios or
choral poetry supplemented with expressive dance. A chorus
danced and exchanged dialogue with a single actor who portrayed
one or more characters primarily by the use of masks. Most of the
action took place in the circular dancing area or "orchestra" which
still remained from the old days when drama had been nothing
more than a circular dance around a sacred object.
Clytemnestra
Clytemnestra (also spelled "Clytaemnestra") is the
daughter of Leda and Tyndareus and the half sister of
Helen. Clytemnestra and Helen are half sisters because
Zeus appeared to Leda in the form of a swan and raped
her. On the same night, Tyndareus also had sex with
Leda and Leda became pregnant. Leda gave birth to
four children or in some versions, laid four eggs.
Clytemnestra and Castor was Tyndareus' children
therefore they are mortal. Helen and Polydeuces was
Zeus' therefor they are immortal.
Aeschylus series of plays called Orestia provide the most popular
version of this myth. In the first play, Agamemnon, Aeschylus describes
Clytemnestra as a strong woman and not the weakling she appeared to be
in Homer's version. When Agamemnon leaves for the Trojan War,
Clytemnestra starts her torrid affair with Aegisthus. Together, they plot to
kill Agamemnon as soon as he returns from the war. When the signal is
given that the war is over, Clytmnestra prepares for the return of
Agamemnon. She is already mad at Agamemnon for sacrificing their
daughter, Iphigenia, and then she finds out that Agamemnon is bringing
home another wife, Cassandra. As soon as Agamemnon's chariot pulls up
in front of the palace, Clytemnestra goes out to welcome Agamemnon.
She lays a purple cloth on the ground for him to walk over, at first
Agamemnon refuses to walk over the cloth but soon gives in to
Clytmnestra's request. Cassandra, given the sight of prophecy by Apollo
but with the curse that no one would believe her because she failed to
keep her promise to have sex with him, remained outside because she
could see the doom surrounding the palace. When Cassandra finally
enters the palace, a cry is heard and a blood drenched Clytemnestra is
shown standing over the dead bodies of Agamemnon and Cassandra.
Aegisthus marries Clytemnestra to become King but is no more than a
puppet to Clytemnestra. This ends the play Agamemnon.