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Classics: Ancient History - Source Reliability

AESCHYLUS

WHO WAS HE?

o Dramatist of early 5th Century
o Military Man

CONTEXT OF WRITINGS?

o Fought at Marathon - also probably at Salamis & Plataea

PURPOSE OF WRITINGS?

o Warnings against hubris
 - showed that human arrogance was punished severely by the gods (Xerxes pushed his limits)

WHAT WAS HIS ORIGINAL AUDIENCE?

o Athenian men
 - these were aware of Aeschylus' technique of deliberate omissions & inaccuracies in order to illustrate his purpose

RELIABLE?

o Eye-witness account
o Military background
 - vivid description of the battle of Salamis
o Some collaborations with Herodotus

UNRELIABLE?

o Carries a religious message not just to glorify the Greek victory over Persia
 - claims that Marathon was a victory of the gods
o Doesn't mention any Greeks by name
o Streamlined his account for dramatic purposes (however, his audience was aware of this!)

Specified Sources:
~ N/A | A2 source ~

 Other Useful Sources:
o The Persians (Robert Potter trans.)
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