The Persians

The Persians is a tragedy written by the ancient Greek playwright Aeschylus in 472 BCE. The play tells the story of the Persian defeat in the Battle of Salamis which took place in 480 BCE during the Greco-Persian Wars. The play is notable for its depiction of the Persian perspective on the war as opposed to the Greek perspective that is more commonly seen in historical accounts. The play focuses on the aftermath of the battle as the Persian queen Atossa mourns the loss of her son the Persian king Xerxes and seeks answers from the ghost of her dead husband King Darius. Through Atossas dialogue with the ghost of Darius Aeschylus provides a critique of Persian imperialism and tyranny and highlights the hubris and arrogance that led to their defeat. At the same time he also portrays the Persians as a proud and dignified people who are devastated by their loss and struggle to come to terms with their defeat. The Persians is considered one of Aeschylus most important works and is admired for its powerful imagery its complex characterizations and its insights into the human condition. The play has been studied and performed throughout the centuries and continues to be a powerful and thought-provoking work of literature.