EURIPIDES

480-400 B. C.)

BY WILLIAM CRAN-TON LAWTON

RIPIDES, latest in age and perhaps ist in rank among the three surviving tragic ports of Atens, was said to have A been born on Salamis, during the decisive battle for freedom, when his mother, like the homeless folk of Attica generally This legend was at was in temporary exile upon the little island. least an artistic invention, since Eschylus shared in the sea fight, and Sophocles, as a beautiful stripling, led the band of boys who need about the trophy of victory.

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supreme rank of these three is no accident of sarviva'. When news of Euripides's death reached Athers, Sophocles bide his elorus 4ar in mourning for hoa; and a few months later, in the underworld, Aristophanes, in his comedy The : de god Dionysos follow them thither, and beg Pluto s th one Gramatist worthy to grace the annual contest vd. This testimony from the lifelong enemy and rid des is borne out by all the evidence we have.

He was probably of good Attie stock, the stories a Downty being inventions of the comic poets. He was on elicet a large library. He was carefully educated

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thte, from a misunderstanding of an oracle to tuk

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vas to win prizes in contests." He also developed yoʻ He his friend Socrates, as an artist. At twenty-five Lhe first of the honor of competing as one of the three chosen tragic poets The Dionysia. All these facts point to good scerad reik

de dd not, however, like the youthful Sophocles, win at once Prodlar heart. At his first venture he was placed list He sec": chest honors not once until fourteen years later, and 90% rve tim alt ether. Yet toward the end of his H, and after be leath, F anthuence, not merely in Athens but throughout Greck ka's was no "Iveled. It is no accident that seven dramas of schyla. De logies, nireteen of Euripides, have been preserved for us, do is sad to have composed twenty-three tetralogies, m dramas! Each play was doubtless an independent and compet *t, so that the number is indeed surprising.

EURIPIDES

(480-406 B. C.)

BY WILLIAM CRANSTON LAWTON

QURIPIDES, latest in age and perhaps least in rank among the three surviving tragic poets of Athens, was said to have been born on Salamis, during the decisive battle for freedom, when his mother, like the homeless folk of Attica generally, was in temporary exile upon the little island. This legend was at least an artistic invention, since Eschylus shared in the sea fight, and Sophocles, as a beautiful stripling, led the band of boys who danced about the trophy of victory.

The supreme rank of these three is no accident of survival. When news of Euripides's death reached Athens, Sophocles bade his chorus appear in mourning for him; and a few months later, when both were in the underworld, Aristophanes, in his comedy The Frogs,' makes the god Dionysos follow them thither, and beg Pluto to restore to earth one dramatist worthy to grace the annual contest at his festival. This testimony from the lifelong enemy and ridiculer of Euripides is borne out by all the evidence we have.

He was probably of good Attic stock, the stories of his parents' poverty being inventions of the comic poets. He was one of the first to collect a large library. He was carefully educated, at first as an athlete, from a misunderstanding of an oracle to the effect that he was to "win prizes in contests." He also developed youthful skill, like his friend Socrates, as an artist. At twenty-five he first obtained the honor of competing as one of the three chosen tragic poets at the Dionysia. All these facts point to good social rank.

He did not, however, like the youthful Sophocles, win at once the popular heart. At his first venture he was placed last. He secured highest honors not once until fourteen years later, and only five times altogether. Yet toward the end of his life, and after his death, his influence, not merely in Athens but throughout Greek lands, was unrivaled. It is no accident that seven dramas of Eschylus, seven of Sophocles, nineteen of Euripides, have been preserved for us. Euripides is said to have composed twenty-three tetralogies, ninety-two dramas! Each play was doubtless an independent and complete work of art, so that the number is indeed surprising.