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Suppliant Women

By Aeschylus

$9.95

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The Suppliant Women (also called Suppliant Maidens or Suppliants) by Aeschylus is the first (or possibly the second) in a three-play sequence based on the well-known story of the daughters of Danaus, the Danaids, who fled from their home in Egypt and sailed to Argos to escape from having to marry their cousins. The other plays in the trilogy have been lost, except for fragments. Largely for stylistic reasons (particularly the predominant role of the Chorus) Suppliant Women was long thought to be the oldest play in our traditions, but recent evidence has revealed that it is, in fact, one of Aeschylus’ late plays (first performed c. 470 BC).

The arrival of the Danaids and their father in Argos and their request, in the name of the gods, for a refuge from their male cousins, who have aggressively pursued them, create serious political and moral problems for the king of Argos. What claim do these foreign petitioners have on his protection? Should he run the risk of war in order to uphold his religious obligations? What role do the people of Argos have in making that decision? Do these women have a legal right to refuse to get married? The play brings these issues—as relevant today as in ancient Greece—dramatically alive without providing any easy resolution.

Ian Johnston’s new translation of a notoriously difficult Greek text provides a fluent English version of this ancient play, well suited for reading, recitation, or performance.
Category
Classics
ISBN (softcover)
978-1-935238-47-8
e-ISBN
978-1-935238-14-0
Author
Aeschylus

  • If you are interested in understanding the tragedy of war, this is a must-read tragedy. Ian Johnston’s translation of Seven Against Thebes is by far the most readable translation for modern readers.   
    (David Chu)

    _______

    I cannot tell you of the pleasure I have had reading your translation... It is clear, it is eloquent, and — most importantly — it\'s exciting. The Iliad thrilled me as a schoolboy and I have eagerly absorbed each of the many versions that have appeared down the years. Our classics teacher was a very wise man — he knew we\'d never read it at home as part of an assignment — so he assigned us all roles in the story and we read the whole thing aloud in class over the course of an entire school year. The class was as polarized and confrontational being Greeks and Trojans as were the Jets and the Sharks when Jerome Robbins rehearsed West Side Story. Of course, everyone wanted to be Achilles and nobody wanted to be Hera, but . . . .
    Cordially yours,
    John M.

    _______

    I was captivated by your new translation of the Iliad. I am currently reading Samuel Butlers translation, having recently discovered Greek Mythology thanks to Dan Simmons\' Sci-Fi Novels Ilium and Olympus, and even though it is extremely engaging and fantastic to read, I instantly found that your translation flows better and was more accessible. . . .
    Kindest Regards
    Richard W.

  • If you are interested in understanding the tragedy of war, this is a must-read tragedy. Ian Johnston’s translation of Seven Against Thebes is by far the most readable translation for modern readers.   
    (David Chu)

    _______

    I cannot tell you of the pleasure I have had reading your translation... It is clear, it is eloquent, and — most importantly — it\\\'s exciting. The Iliad thrilled me as a schoolboy and I have eagerly absorbed each of the many versions that have appeared down the years. Our classics teacher was a very wise man — he knew we\\\'d never read it at home as part of an assignment — so he assigned us all roles in the story and we read the whole thing aloud in class over the course of an entire school year. The class was as polarized and confrontational being Greeks and Trojans as were the Jets and the Sharks when Jerome Robbins rehearsed West Side Story. Of course, everyone wanted to be Achilles and nobody wanted to be Hera, but . . . .
    Cordially yours,
    John M.

    _______

    I was captivated by your new translation of the Iliad. I am currently reading Samuel Butlers translation, having recently discovered Greek Mythology thanks to Dan Simmons\\\' Sci-Fi Novels Ilium and Olympus, and even though it is extremely engaging and fantastic to read, I instantly found that your translation flows better and was more accessible. . . .
    Kindest Regards
    Richard W.

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Suppliant Women

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