Aeschylus
Aeschylus, often hailed as the “father of tragedy,” was a pioneering Greek dramatist whose works laid the foundation of classical theater. Born around 525 BCE, he transformed drama by introducing the second actor, deepening dialogue and conflict beyond the chorus. His surviving plays, including The Oresteia trilogy, explore justice, divine will, and human responsibility with grandeur and moral weight. Aeschylus fought at Marathon, embodying the heroic spirit he dramatized. His language was lofty, his themes cosmic, blending myth with civic duty. Revered by successors like Sophocles and Euripides, he remains a towering figure whose vision shaped tragedy’s enduring power.
Wisdom comes through suffering. Trouble, with its memories of pain, drips in our hearts as we try to sleep, so men against their will learn to practice moderation.