Ancient Greek Tragedy

Definition

Greek tragedy was a popular and influential form of drama performed in theatres across ancient Greece from the late 6th century BCE. The most famous playwrights of the genre were Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides and many of their works were still performed centuries after their initial premiere. Greek tragedy led to Greek comedy and, together, these genres formed the foundation upon which all modern theatre is based.

More about: Ancient Greek Tragedy

Timeline

  • c. 525 BCE - c. 456 BCE
    Life of Greek tragedy poet Aeschylus.
  • c. 496 BCE - c. 406 BCE
    Life of Greek tragedy poet Sophocles.
  • c. 493 BCE
    Phrynichos' tragedy 'The Fall of Miletos' is first performed.
  • c. 484 BCE - 407 BCE
    Life of Greek tragedy poet Euripides.
  • 477 BCE
    Phrynichos' tragedy 'Phoencian Women' is first performed.
  • 472 BCE
    Aeschylus' tragedy 'Persians' is first performed.
  • 468 BCE
    Sophocles wins his first tragedy competition (title unknown).
  • 467 BCE
    Aeschylus' tragedy 'Seven Against Thebes' is first performed.
  • c. 463 BCE
    Aeschylus' tragedy 'The Suppliants' is first performed.
  • 458 BCE
    Aeschylus' tragedy trilogy Orestia: 'Agamemnon', Libation Bearers or 'Choephori', and 'The Eumenides' is first performed.
  • c. 457 BCE
    Aeschylus' tragedy 'Prometheus Bound' is first performed.
  • c. 442 BCE
    Sophocles' tragedy 'Antigone' is first performed.
  • 438 BCE
    Euripides' tragedy 'Alcestis' is first performed.
  • 431 BCE
    Euripides' tragedy 'Medeia' is first performed.
  • c. 430 BCE
    Euripides' tragedy 'Heraclidae' is first performed.
  • 429 BCE - 420 BCE
    Sophocles' tragedy 'Oedipus the King' is first performed.
  • 428 BCE
    Euripides' tragedy 'Hippolytus' is first performed.
  • c. 425 BCE
    Euripides' tragedy 'Andromache' is first performed.
  • c. 423 BCE
    Euripides' tragedy 'Hecuba' is first performed.
  • c. 423 BCE
    Euripides' tragedy 'Suppliants' is first performed.
  • c. 417 BCE
    Euripides' tragedy 'Hercules' is first performed.
  • c. 416 BCE
    Euripides' tragedy 'Electra' is first performed.
  • 415 BCE
    Euripides' tragedy 'Trojan Women' is first performed.
  • 412 BCE
    Euripides' tragedy 'Helen' is first performed.
  • c. 412 BCE
    Euripides' tragedy 'Iphigenia among the Taurians' is first performed.
  • c. 410 BCE
    Euripides' tragedy 'Ion' is first performed.
  • 409 BCE
    Sophocles' tragedy 'Philoctetes' is first performed.
  • 409 BCE
    Euripides' tragedy 'Phoenissae' is first performed.
  • c. 408 BCE
    Euripides' tragedy 'Orestes' is first performed.
  • 408 BCE - 406 BCE
    Euripides' tragedies 'Bacchae', 'Iphigenia at Aulis' are first performed.
  • 401 BCE
    Sophocles' tragedy 'Oedipus at Colonus' is first performed.
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