Aeschylus: Athenian Youth.

AESCHYLUS, ca. 525/524 B.C.-455/456 B.C.; CLASSICAL drama; DRAMATISTS; ANCIENT literature; CLASSICAL drama (Tragedy); GREEK drama; CLASSICAL literature; DRAMATIC structure; GREEK literature; HISTORY

The article focuses on the early life of the Athenian dramatist Aeschylus. Although tragedians such as Thespis were famous before him, Aeschylus essentially created what has become known as tragic drama. Aeschylus was the predecessor of most of the other well-known Greek dramatists, and his work inspired Sophocles and Euripides, among others. In his writings, Aristotle credited Aeschylus as the innovator of many elements that have been considered dramatic standards ever since. Aeschylus's family history is reviewed.