Aeschylus, The Persians; Xerxes overreaches

The Story
The Persians centres around a chorus of old men of Susa, the Persian capital. As they wait to hear about the Persian invasion of Greece. Atossa, Xerxes mother, has a vision that suggests that the Persians will be defeated. She then sacrifices to the Gods for their safe return and sees another bad omen.
A messenger enters, and tells of the Persians defeat at Salamis, and of the death of many great and mighty Persians, which he takes the time to name. He then reveals that Xerxes survived but that the force was scattered and that he does not know where he or any of the others are.
Atossa, with the chorus, then summons the shade of Darius. Who, when told of Xerxes defeat, condemns his son's decision to go to war and to build a bridge across the Hellespont; that the bridge angered the gods and that's why he was defeated. He also prophesise another major defeat for the Persians.
Xerxes arrives in tattered clothes and, with the chorus, laments over the defeat of the Persians.

Reflections
This is the first work that has mentioned the Persians but I expect to see them again as they were a major player in the region.
Atossa's vision/dream is the source of all the tension in the play, as it gives the characters present a reason to be worried about the outcome of the fighting, in a present manor. Without it, there would, of course, be general worry and not knowing but these visions bring it to a head.

Comparisons
 Again, as in Seven against Thebes all the action happens off stage and we only hear about it through the mouths of the messengers. This seems to be done for simplicity and it allows the plot to move quickly without cumbersome fight sequences.

Have you read The Persians? If so what did you think of it?

Want to read The Persians but haven't? Hopefully this inspires you to take the time to do so.
Get a copy of The Persians.

Aeschylus, Seven Against Thebes; Sharing power goes awry

The Story
Oedipus steps down from the Throne of Thebes and gives shared power to his two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, with them alternating the throne once a year. Eteocles does not follow through with this arrangement and keeps the crown. Polynices goes to Argos and raises an army to take Thebes by force.
Seven Against Thebes starts as the army from Argos arrives. Eteocles calls the people of the city to arms and to the defense of the city. Eteocles then names seven commanders, for the seven gates of Thebes. Polynices, splits his force to meet the defenders, and chooses to command one of them himself. When Eteocles hears this, he comes to meet him in single combat. We hear through a herald that the two brothers have killed each other and that the attack has been beaten back. We see the brothers body's being brought together as the family grieves around them.

Reflections
It is worth noting that this is the last play of a set of three focused around Oedipus but that it is the only one that survives.
Oedipus is stepping down, due to being dishonoured, but you have to wonder what he was thinking, setting both the brothers up as ruling Kings. It seems, to a modern reader, a rather unwise thing to do but I guess it is examples like this that make us think so...

Comparisons
To hear that the brothers mutually die seems fitting of a Greek tragedy: like that of the Prometheus Bound and, by contrast, to the anticlimax of The Suppliants, with the sisters safety inside the city.
We also see Argos in a different light than Agamemnon, as the supplier of the men to right a wrong, rather than the power struggles for the top job.

Have you read Seven Against Thebes? If so what did you think of it?

Want to read Seven Against Thebes but haven't? Hopefully this inspires you to take the time to do so.
Get a copy of Seven Against Thebes.

Dante Alighieri, Purgatorio; An uphill climb

The Story
Dante ascends through the 9 stages of Purgatory. The first two are before the main gate of purgatory. These are the excommunicated, but repentant, and the late repentant, those who waited till their dying breath to repent. At the gate of Purgatory, an angel etches seven P's on Dante's forehead.
The other seven, follow the seven deadly sins and Shades must spend time in the levels that they are guilty of, for an unspecified amount of time.  Each of these levels has its own punishment, related to the sin to be Atoned for. At the end of each level, an angle removes one of the P's from Dante's forehead.
The third level is Pride and Shades are forced to walk, bent, under huge stones, never getting a chance to see the motif on humility that dominates the wall.
The Fourth level is Envy. The penetant wear gray robes and have their eyes sewn shut with wire, so that they can no longer look on the things of others, with want.
The Fifth level is Wrath. Here the Shades proceed around in a cloud of smoke, so that they can not see.
The Sixth level is Sloth. Here the Shades run endlessly around the level, in such zeal that they did not have in life.
The Seventh level is Avarice (Greed, ambition etc.). Here the shades are bound, hand and foot, and must lie facing downwards, so that they can not want more of every good thing.
The Eight level is Gluttony. Here Shades are perpetually hungry and thirsty, and water and food is visible but out of reach.
The Ninth level is Lust. Here Shades must leap through flames while reciting chased stories. Dante too, must leap through the fire. Though he is scared, he wants to see Beatrice.
Beyond the Levels, there is Earthly Paradise or the garden of Eden, at this point Virgil leaves Dante's side and he progresses alone. He spends some time talking with a young woman, until Beatrice arrives with a large entourage, that includes the four winged beast and the 24 elders.

Reflections
This time, we see the seven deadly sins. Not being to familiar with the concept of Purgatory, I had expected to see these in the Inferno, but I guess they are the sins that the repentant get caught in, not the sins of the unrepentant.
It is interesting how Dante has paired the sins with their respective penitence, it is rather logical. While the church still has and uses the seven deadly sins, the idea of purgatory has been removed and replaced with the more biblical: Jesus died for all sins even those of the Christian.

Comparisons
The levels of Purgatory are far more distinct than the circles of the Inferno, which makes it a bit easier to follow. I still find it odd that this is where the seven deadly sins are used, if they are deadly surely they would be sent to hell.
Like the Inferno, Virgil continues to guide Dante through purgatory, as he did with hell. But, we do see this end as he reaches the Earthly Paradise in the Purgatorio.

Have you read Purgatorio? If so what did you think of it?

Want to read Purgatorio but haven't? Hopefully this inspires you to take the time to do so.
Get a copy of Purgatorio.

Aeschylus, The Suppliants; Fleeing arranged marriages.

The Story
The 50 daughters of Danaus flee Egypt with their father to avoid arranged marriages with the 50 sons of Danaus' Brother, their cousins.
When they reach Argos, they petition the King Pelasgus for protection. They explain how they are, themselves, descendants of Argos, by Io, and that, at the end of her wandering, she ended up in Egypt, which is why they look more North African than Greek. He denies them protection to seek the will of the Argive people. They agree to protection. No sooner have they agreed, the 50 brothers and their fleet arrive and a herald is dispatched. He insists that the daughters of Deanaus return with him and marry the brothers, he even goes so far as to start dragging them towards the boats. At this point, King Pelasgus intervenes, and the herald leaves. Danaus and his daughters enter the city walls and are protected there. Danaus tells his daughters to pray thanksgiving to the Greek gods for their protection at Argos.

Reflections
It is interesting that in this play the main character and the chorus are one. My research suggests that this is because it is one of the earlier plays and this form of play is just beginning.
Pelasgus asking the Argive people before choosing to harbor the runaways is also interesting, it may suggest that there was a movement towards democracy before the end of the kings.

Comparisons
Aeschylus' The Suppliants does not finish they way we see in a lot of other plays, that is in tragedy. Agamemnon for example ends with the death of Agamemnon and the Libation Bearers ends with the deaths of Orestes' Mother and her second Husband.

Have you read The Suppliants? If so what did you think of it?

Want to read The Suppliants but haven't? Hopefully this inspires you to take the time to do so.
Get a copy of The Suppliants.

Aeschylus, Prometheus bound; The punishment for the gift of fire

The Story
In Greek mythology, Prometheus is a Titan but he is not trapped in Tartarus. Rather, he sided with the Olympians in the war with the Titans and so, Zeus did not trap him with the others. It does not take Prometheus long to run a foul of Zeus by giving humans fire and hope.
The Prometheus bond starts with two gods holding Prometheus in place against a rock so that Hephaestus can chain him to it in punishment for giving fire to man. Hephaestus is reluctant in his work, lamenting that he must chain his friend to this rock.
Prometheus is visited by a chorus of Oceanids, who enquire what he did to end up there. Prometheus recounts his part in the Titan war with the Olympians. This includes his stealing fire for man, thwarting Zeus's plan to destroy mankind, and teaching mankind the civilizing arts, including mathematics, medicine, and writing.
Oceanus comes to visit Prometheus and implore him to make peace with Zeus. Prometheus says he will not atone for his actions. Oceanus then says he will go to Zeus and plead for him but Prometheus dissuades him.
Prometheus' next visitor is Io who has been changed into a cow and constantly bothered by a gadfly. Prometheus prophesise that Io will travel as far as Egypt and will be turned back to human and marry, and that her descendants will come and free him from his punishment.
There is a prophecy that a son of Zeus will topple him and Zeus sends Hermes to Prometheus, who is known for prophecy, to find out who his son's mother will be. Prometheus refuses and is sent to Tartarus.

Reflections
Prometheus is quite resigned to his punishment and does not seem to want others to try and put an end to it at this time. This is most likely due to his prophetic gifts as it is said he could see the future and how things would unfold for himself.
There is a great contrast between Hephaestus and Prometheus in how they react to Zeus. Hephaestus does Zeus' bidding even when he does not fully agree. Where as, Prometheus does what he thinks is right and does not submit to Zeus' kingship.

Comparisons
This take on Prometheus' story differs from Theogony in a couple of ways. First, we do not see the crow eating out his liver every day in this telling. Second, we do not see him being instrumental in the opening of Pandora's box. In fact, Pandora's box isn't even mentioned.
Also, Prometheus bound dwells on the spitefulness of Zeus. Where as, in Theogony we see him in a more passive light and we see Hera in a more spiteful role.

Have you read Prometheus Bound? If so what did you think of it?

Want to read Prometheus Bound but haven't? Hopefully this inspires you to take the time to do so.
Get a copy of Prometheus Bound.

Aeschylus, Eumenides; Orestes judgement

Eumenides is the last surviving part of the story of Orestes(Agamemnon and The Libation Bearers being the first and second), there was one more volume but it has been lost in time.

The Story
The Eumenides is the story of Orestes as he flees from the Furies to the temple of Apollo at Delphi. Once at the temple, he implores Apollo who bars the Furies from his temple. The Furies rage and try to talk their way into the temple. Orestes then flees to Athena's temple in Athens, petitioning her to arbitrate the dispute. Athena convenes a jury and the evidence of the murders is put forward. The jury finds Orestes in the right for killing his mother, in vengeance for her slaying of his Father.

Reflections
The conversation between Apollo and the Furies is quite interesting. The Furies argue that, as older gods they should have precedence, but Apollo doesn't find their argument persuasive. Also, there seems to be no travel time in the play between the temple of Apollo in Delphi and the temple of Athena in Athens. It is curious that the Furies do not catch Orestes between the two temples.

Comparisons
As a continuation of the Libation Bearers, we see Orestes dealing with the aftermath of his actions in killing his mother. Unlike the Libation Bearers and Agamemnon, the gods Apollo and Athena get a lot of lines and are a main part of the action.
In the Eumenides, we see the peace time aspects of Apollo and Athena. Especially Athena, the arbitrator, rather than their aspects in a war, as we see in the Iliad.

Have you read The Eumenides? If so what did you think of it?

Want to read The  Eumenides but haven't? Hopefully this inspires you to take the time to do so.
Get a copy of The Eumenides.

Dante Alighieri, Inferno; A downwards spiral

So I landed myself a new job! I will soon be a call center operator part time, which will be really cool. I don't start until the 18th of March, which is a few weeks away, at the moment.

The Story
Inferno is the story of Dante as he is being lead through Hell by the spirit of Virgil and progresses down in a spiral. Dante starts in a dark forest, which he cannot seem to escape as his way is blocked by three vicious creatures. Here he meets Virgil who agrees to take him through hell and out the other side as the only escape. They the proceed through the nine circles of hell: Limbo, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Wrath, Heresy, and Violence which is broken into three rings, Fraud which is broken into 10 Bolgia and Treachery which is broken into four rounds. Dante then proceeds to the center of hell and climbs the devil, himself, to escape. As he progresses down through the circles, he stops and talks to many shades of note, mainly Greek or Roman including Homer and Ovid. All those that are named are references to history and older epics.

Reflections
As simple as the above description is, the text is not that straight forward. It is more a meandering through of different parts, without clear distinctions between circles or their sub-portions. I did not always recognize the named shades that Dante meet but I think I will come across them as I continue through my BC list.
Dante at first seems to be working from a Christian perspective but this quickly falls away as he uses many other descriptions of the afterlife from many different cultures and sources, with the rives Styx needing to be crossed and with demons and principalities drawn from the Greek and Roman gods and famous people. Dante also presents the poem as a recounting of a vision that happened to him, which it could have been but it does not line up with the Christian scriptures but rather is a large part of Christian mysticism.
I had thought that this was the origin of the seven deadly sins and it is a part of it's propagation; but, it is more accurately a doctrine of the Catholic Church as part of their doctrine of carnal and venal sins. I do not believe, from my research, that it is still an active doctrine and it is not biblical.

Comparisons
The crossing of the river Styx is straight out of Greek mythology and we also see the crossing of the river of the dead in the Gilgamesh epic. The difference being them, is that in both Greek mythology and the Gilgamesh epic, the river was something that separated the world of the living from the world of the dead and that all the dead had to make the crossing. In the Inferno, it is one of the punishments for the damned and is part way though the circles, so not all the dead cross it, only those going to deeper circles.

Have you read Inferno? If so what did you think of it?

Want to read Inferno but haven't? Hopefully this inspires you to take the time to do so.
Get a copy of Inferno.