Children of Heracles (Ancient Greek: Ἡρακλεῖδαι, Hērakleidai; also translated as Herakles' Children and Heracleidae) is an Atheniantragedy by Euripides that was first performed c. 430 BC. It follows the children of Heracles (known as the Heracleidae) as they seek protection from Eurystheus. It is the first of two surviving tragedies by Euripides where the children of Heracles are suppliants (the second being Heracles).
The Children of Heracles was written by the youngest of the great trilogy of Greek playwrights Euripides. His mother’s name was Cleito; his father’s name was Mnesarchus or Mnesarchides. One tradition states that his mother was a greengrocer who sold herbs in the marketplace. Aristophanes joked about this in comedy after comedy; but there is better indirect evidence that Euripides came of a well-off family. With the Peloponnesian War waging, Euripides left Athens in 408 BCE to live the remainder of his life in Macedonia. Many believe he wrote some of his best plays there. It is said that when Athenians speak of “the poet” they are referring to Euripides. Euripides played little or no part in Athenian political affairs; the one exception was a brief diplomatic mission to Sicily. He died in Macedonia in 406
Eurystheus was responsible for many of the troubles of Heracles. In order to prevent the children of Heracles from taking revenge on him, he sought to kill them. They flee under the protection of Iolaus, Heracles' close friend and nephew. The characters that are part of this tragedy are Eurystheus, a powerful tyrant, Demophon, King of Athens, Macaria, the daughter, Alkmene, her mother, and Iolaus.
Plot synopsisedit
The play begins at the altar of Zeus at Marathon. The herald Copreus, in the employ of King Eurystheus of Mycenae, attempts to seize the children of Heracles, together with Heracles's old friend, Iolaus. When King Demophon, son of Theseus, insists that Iolaus and Heracles's children are under his protection, Copreus threatens to return with an army. Demophon is prepared to protect the children even at the cost of fighting a war against Eurystheus, but after consulting the oracles, he learns that the Athenians will be victorious only if they sacrifice a maiden of noble birth to Persephone. Demophon tells Iolaus that as much as he would like to help, he will not sacrifice his own child or force any of the Athenians to do so. Iolaus, realising that he and the children will have to leave Athens and seek refuge elsewhere, despairs.
When Macaria, a daughter of Heracles, hears about the oracle's pronouncement and realises her family's predicament, she offers herself as the victim, refusing a lottery. Bidding farewell to her siblings and to Iolaus, she leaves to be sacrificed. At the same time, Hyllus arrives with reinforcements. Although Iolaus is old and feeble, he insists on going out to the battle. Once there, he miraculously regains his youth and captures Eurystheus. A debate about executing him follows. Alcmene, Heracles's aged mother, insists that Eurystheus be executed at once, though such an execution is against Athenian law. Finally, Eurystheus tells them a prophecy of how his spirit will protect the city from the descendants of Heracles's children if they slay and bury him, and so it is done.
Translationsedit
Edward P. Coleridge, 1891, prose, The Heracleidae: full text
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Heracleidae (Euripides)
Burian, Peter, and Alan Shapiro, eds. 2010. The Complete Euripides. By Euripides. Vol. 3. The Greek Tragedy in New Translations ser. Oxford and New York: Oxford. ISBN0-19-538877-1.
Davie, John, trans. 2003. Medea and Other Plays. By Euripides. London and New York: Penguin. ISBN0-14-044929-9.
Walton, J. Michael, and Kenneth McLeish, eds. 1997. Plays: V. By Euripides. Methuen Classical Greek Dramatists ser. London: Methuen. ISBN0-413-71640-6.
Further readingedit
E. M. Griffiths, "Euripides' "Herakles" and the Pursuit of Immortality", Fourth Series, Vol. 55, Fasc. 6 (2002), pp. 641–656.
Elmer G Suhr, "Herakles and Omphale" , Vol. 57, No. 4 (Oct., 1953), pp. 251–263 (15 pages)
H. A. Shapiro, ""Hȇrȏs Theos": The Death and Apotheosis of Herakles" , Vol. 77, No. 1 (Sep. - Oct., 1983), pp. 7–18 (12 pages)
Thalia Papadopoulou, "Herakles and Hercules: The Hero's Ambivalence in Euripides and Seneca" , Fourth Series, Vol. 57, Fasc. 3 (2004), pp. 257–283 (27 pages)
Karelisa Hartigan, "Euripidean Madness: Herakles and Orestes" , Vol. 34, No. 2 (Oct., 1987), pp. 126–135 (10 pages)
Brooke Holmes, "Euripides' Heracles in the Flesh", , Vol. 27, No. 2 (October 2008), pp. 231–281 (51 pages)
January 01, 1970
children, heracles, ancient, greek, Ἡρακλεῖδαι, hērakleidai, also, translated, herakles, children, heracleidae, athenian, tragedy, euripides, that, first, performed, follows, children, heracles, known, heracleidae, they, seek, protection, from, eurystheus, fir. Children of Heracles Ancient Greek Ἡrakleῖdai Herakleidai also translated as Herakles Children and Heracleidae is an Athenian tragedy by Euripides that was first performed c 430 BC It follows the children of Heracles known as the Heracleidae as they seek protection from Eurystheus It is the first of two surviving tragedies by Euripides where the children of Heracles are suppliants the second being Heracles Herakles ChildrenStatue of EuripidesWritten byEuripidesChorusaged AtheniansCharactersIolausCopreusDemophonMacariaServant of HyllusAlcmeneMessengerEurystheusMuteAcamasChildren of HeraclesFollowersPlace premieredAthensOriginal languageAncient GreekGenreTragedySettingBefore the temple of Zeus at Marathon Contents 1 Background 2 Plot synopsis 3 Translations 4 References 5 Sources 6 Further readingBackground editThe Children of Heracles was written by the youngest of the great trilogy of Greek playwrights Euripides His mother s name was Cleito his father s name was Mnesarchus or Mnesarchides One tradition states that his mother was a greengrocer who sold herbs in the marketplace Aristophanes joked about this in comedy after comedy but there is better indirect evidence that Euripides came of a well off family With the Peloponnesian War waging Euripides left Athens in 408 BCE to live the remainder of his life in Macedonia Many believe he wrote some of his best plays there It is said that when Athenians speak of the poet they are referring to Euripides Euripides played little or no part in Athenian political affairs the one exception was a brief diplomatic mission to Sicily He died in Macedonia in 406Eurystheus was responsible for many of the troubles of Heracles In order to prevent the children of Heracles from taking revenge on him he sought to kill them They flee under the protection of Iolaus Heracles close friend and nephew The characters that are part of this tragedy are Eurystheus a powerful tyrant Demophon King of Athens Macaria the daughter Alkmene her mother and Iolaus Plot synopsis editThe play begins at the altar of Zeus at Marathon The herald Copreus in the employ of King Eurystheus of Mycenae attempts to seize the children of Heracles together with Heracles s old friend Iolaus When King Demophon son of Theseus insists that Iolaus and Heracles s children are under his protection Copreus threatens to return with an army Demophon is prepared to protect the children even at the cost of fighting a war against Eurystheus but after consulting the oracles he learns that the Athenians will be victorious only if they sacrifice a maiden of noble birth to Persephone Demophon tells Iolaus that as much as he would like to help he will not sacrifice his own child or force any of the Athenians to do so Iolaus realising that he and the children will have to leave Athens and seek refuge elsewhere despairs When Macaria a daughter of Heracles hears about the oracle s pronouncement and realises her family s predicament she offers herself as the victim refusing a lottery Bidding farewell to her siblings and to Iolaus she leaves to be sacrificed At the same time Hyllus arrives with reinforcements Although Iolaus is old and feeble he insists on going out to the battle Once there he miraculously regains his youth and captures Eurystheus A debate about executing him follows Alcmene Heracles s aged mother insists that Eurystheus be executed at once though such an execution is against Athenian law Finally Eurystheus tells them a prophecy of how his spirit will protect the city from the descendants of Heracles s children if they slay and bury him and so it is done Translations editEdward P Coleridge 1891 prose The Heracleidae full text Arthur S Way 1912 verse Ralph Gladstone 1955 verse Henry Taylor and Robert A Brooks 1981 The Children of Herakles 1 David Kovacs 1994 prose Heracleidae full text John Davie 1996 Children of Heracles 2 Kenneth McLeish 1997 Herakles Children 3 George Theodoridis 2010 prose Herakleidae full text Mark Griffith 2013 The Children of HeraclesReferences edit In Burian and Shapiro 2010 In Davie 2003 In Walton and McLeish 1997 Sources edit nbsp Wikisource has original text related to this article Heracleidae Euripides Burian Peter and Alan Shapiro eds 2010 The Complete Euripides By Euripides Vol 3 The Greek Tragedy in New Translations ser Oxford and New York Oxford ISBN 0 19 538877 1 Davie John trans 2003 Medea and Other Plays By Euripides London and New York Penguin ISBN 0 14 044929 9 Walton J Michael and Kenneth McLeish eds 1997 Plays V By Euripides Methuen Classical Greek Dramatists ser London Methuen ISBN 0 413 71640 6 Further reading editE M Griffiths Euripides Herakles and the Pursuit of Immortality Fourth Series Vol 55 Fasc 6 2002 pp 641 656 Elmer G Suhr Herakles and Omphale Vol 57 No 4 Oct 1953 pp 251 263 15 pages H A Shapiro Hȇrȏs Theos The Death and Apotheosis of Herakles Vol 77 No 1 Sep Oct 1983 pp 7 18 12 pages Thalia Papadopoulou Herakles and Hercules The Hero s Ambivalence in Euripides and Seneca Fourth Series Vol 57 Fasc 3 2004 pp 257 283 27 pages Karelisa Hartigan Euripidean Madness Herakles and Orestes Vol 34 No 2 Oct 1987 pp 126 135 10 pages Brooke Holmes Euripides Heracles in the Flesh Vol 27 No 2 October 2008 pp 231 281 51 pages Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Children of Heracles amp oldid 1177605121, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
