Introduction to Aeschylus' Persians
Welcome! In this chapter, we are diving into one of the most fascinating plays from Ancient Greece: Aeschylus' Persians. This play is a core part of your study for "The Invention of the Barbarian" (H408/23). Why? Because it is one of our best examples of how the Greeks "invented" the idea of the "Barbarian" in their literature.
Produced in 472 BC, just eight years after the Battle of Salamis, it is unique because it deals with historical events rather than myths. Even though it was written by a Greek (Aeschylus) for a Greek audience, it is set in the Persian capital of Susa and features only Persian characters. Don’t worry if it seems strange at first—we will break down exactly how Aeschylus uses this play to contrast the "civilised" Greeks with the "barbarian" Persians.
The Historical Context: The Persian Wars
To understand the play, you need to know about the Persian Wars. The Persians, led by King Xerxes, invaded Greece in 480 BC. Despite having a massive empire and a much larger army, the Persians were defeated by the Greeks at the Battle of Salamis. Aeschylus himself likely fought in these wars, so the play is a reflection on a very recent and very real victory.
Quick Review:
• Date: 472 BC (the earliest surviving Greek tragedy).
• Setting: Susa, the heart of the Persian Empire.
• The Twist: A Greek playwright writing from the perspective of his defeated enemies.
Key Theme: The Greek vs. Barbarian Polarity
In this component, "polarity" means a complete opposite. Aeschylus uses the Persians to show what the Greeks weren't. This is the heart of the "Invention of the Barbarian."
1. Slave vs. Free
Aeschylus emphasizes that Persians are slaves to their King, whereas Greeks are free citizens. In the play, Atossa (the Queen Mother) asks who the Greeks "obey." She is shocked to learn they are "slaves to no man."
Key Takeaway: For the Greeks, being "barbarian" meant being willing to live under a tyrant.
2. Luxury vs. Simplicity
The play describes Persia as "gold-clad" and "rich." While this sounds nice, to a Greek audience, too much wealth and luxury made a people "soft" and led to hubris (excessive pride). The Greeks valued sophrosyne (self-control and moderation).
3. Emotion vs. Restraint
The Persians in the play are depicted as highly emotional. They wail, tear their clothes, and groan loudly in grief. Aeschylus uses this to suggest that "barbarians" cannot control their emotions as well as "rational" Greeks can.
The Characters: Three Generations of Persia
Atossa (The Queen Mother)
Atossa is a dignified figure, but she represents the anxiety of the Persian state. Through her dream (where she sees two women, a Greek and a Persian, harnessed to a chariot), Aeschylus foreshadows the Persian defeat. Her role is to show the "barbarian" obsession with family lineage and royal status.
The Ghost of Darius
In a famous scene, the Persians summon the ghost of the former King, Darius. He represents the "old" Persia—successful and wise. He acts as a critic of his son, Xerxes, explaining that the defeat was caused by Xerxes’ hubris in trying to "chain" the Hellespont (the sea) with a bridge.
Did you know? By having Darius blame Xerxes, Aeschylus makes the defeat seem like a punishment from the gods, not just a military failure.
Xerxes
Xerxes doesn't appear until the end of the play, and when he does, he is a wreck. He enters in torn robes, carrying an empty quiver. He is the ultimate "barbarian" failure: a King who led his people to ruin because he didn't know his limits. He represents the catastrophic consequences of unchecked power.
The Messenger Speech: The Battle of Salamis
A huge part of the play is the Messenger’s speech. He describes the Battle of Salamis in vivid detail. Even though he is a Persian character, he describes the Greek victory as a triumph of order and freedom. He famously quotes the Greek battle cry: "Forward, sons of the Greeks! Deliver your fatherland!"
Common Mistake to Avoid:
Don't think Aeschylus is being "nice" to the Persians by giving them their own play. By showing the Persians in such a state of total despair and mourning, he is actually celebrating the superiority of the Greek way of life. The "barbarian" grief is a trophy for the Greek audience.
The Reality of Persia vs. The Play
It is important to remember that Aeschylus' version of Persia is a literary construction.
• In the play, Persia is a place of total ruin and mourning.
• In reality (which you will study in other chapters), the Persian Empire remained a massive, powerful, and culturally rich superpower for a long time after Salamis.
Aeschylus focuses on the satrapies (provinces) and the vastness of the empire only to make the Greek victory seem even more miraculous.
Summary and Key Takeaways
Why is The Persians important for H408/23?
1. It defines the "Barbarian": It creates a stereotype of Persians as emotional, luxury-loving, and subservient to a tyrant.
2. It justifies the Victory: It suggests the Greeks won because their morals and politics (freedom and moderation) were better than the Persians'.
3. Use of Hubris: It uses the concept of hubris to explain history—Xerxes offended the gods by overstepping his human boundaries.
Memory Trick: Think of Xerxes as the "X-treme" King—he went to "X-tremes" with his bridge, his army, and his wealth, which led to his "X-pulsion" from Greece!
For more on how these stereotypes appear in art, see the chapter on Greek visual sources: Persians and Amazons. For the historical facts behind the empire, see The reality of Persia.