The Persians: Analysis of Setting
"The Persians: Analysis of Setting" focuses on the geographical and historical contexts of the ancient conflict between Persia and Greece, particularly during the time of the Persian Empire. Central to the analysis is the city of Susa, the capital of Persia, which served as a powerful political and cultural center. The setting highlights the significance of Susa’s fortified structures and its role as the treasury and royal palace during the reign of Darius and later his son Xerxes. The narrative also delves into the broader Persian Empire, emphasizing its vast reach from India to the Aegean Sea, which was established under Cyrus the Great.
Athens, a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, is depicted as a significant adversary to the Persian forces, particularly during the critical battles of Salamis and others, where Athenian forces achieved notable victories. The island of Salamis serves as a key location for the naval confrontation that altered the course of Persian ambitions in Greece. Queen Atossa's mourning for Xerxes’ defeat is emblematic of the emotional and cultural dimensions of this historical setting, reflecting the impact of warfare on families and nations. This exploration of settings provides insights into the historical dynamics of power, conflict, and cultural identity in the ancient world.
The Persians: Analysis of Setting
First transcribed:Persai, 472 b.c.e. (English translation, 1777)
Type of work: Drama
Type of plot: Tragedy
Time of work: 480 b.c.e.
Asterisk denotes entries on real places.
Places Discussed
*Athens
*Athens. Powerful city-state of ancient Greece and capital of Attica, a province of east-central Greece. Athenian forces were prominent in defeating the Persians at Salamis and in other battles in a fifteen-year war.
*Persia
*Persia. Country in western Asia that is now known as Iran. At the time of the play, Persia controlled a vast empire extending from India through Asia Minor to the Aegean Sea, solidified by Cyrus the Great and sustained by his son Darius, who ruled until 529 b.c.e.
*Susa
*Susa. Capital of the Persian Empire in which the play is set. Darius built the city on an ancient fertile tract on the lower Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, a site now south of Dezfūl in southwestern Iran. The ancient city had a strongly fortified citadel containing the treasury and the palace, consisting of self-contained units with successive rooms opening onto central courts. The city’s ruins were discovered in the nineteenth century. Xerxes’ father Darius, probably buried in Susa, had sought to reclaim a portion of his empire by invading Greece in 490 b.c.e. but was defeated by Athenian forces. Ten years later, Xerxes invaded Greece only to be defeated and forced to retreat, thus liberating Greek cities in Asia Minor. Queen Atossa, Xerxes’ mother, and a chorus of elders mourn her son’s defeat on his return.
*Salamis
*Salamis. Island off the coast of Attica in east-central Greece, whose capital was the city-state of Athens. The Bay of Salamis was the scene of the Greek naval victory over the Persian fleet in 490 b.c.e.
Bibliography
Aeschylus. The Persians. Translated by Janet Lembke and C. J. Herington. New York: Oxford University Press, 1981. A happy collaboration between a practicing poet and a classical scholar. Lembke’s translation captures lyric qualities of this seemingly prosaic play, while Herington’s informative introduction provides an excellent orientation for the reader new to the drama of Aeschylus.
Gagarin, Michael. Aeschylean Drama. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1976. Chapter 2 presents a detailed analysis of The Persians. Gagarin shows that presentation of political propaganda is not inconsistent with tragic practice. Also explores the moral theme of calamity brought on by excessive pride.
Podlecki, Anthony J. The Political Background of Aeschylean Tragedy. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1966. Chapter 2 still presents the most succinct introduction to the historical and political background. Podlecki has an excellent understanding of Themistocles, the Athenian general whose plan to encounter the Persians at Salamis saved the Greeks.
Spatz, Lois. Aeschylus. Boston: Twayne, 1982. Chapter 2 presents a detailed analysis of the historical and political significance of the play. Spatz is particularly good in her discussion of The Persians as simultaneously alien to Greek audiences and yet a paradigm for the human condition.
Winnington-Ingram, R. P. Studies in Aeschylus. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1983. Chapter 1 offers an excellent discussion of the theological aspects of the play, concentrating on the figure of Zeus. Though not actually present in the play, Zeus is mentioned repeatedly as the cause of the Persian disaster.