The Political Art of Greek Tragedy
In this outstanding new book, Christian Meier examines the close
relationship between drama and politics at the beginning of the
great age of Greek tragedy, focusing on the works of Aeschylus.
The author examines the political, social and even psychological
problems of the inhabitants of fifth-century Athens, during a time
of rapid change. Through the role of festivals and the role of the
festival of Dionysus in particular, Meier moves on to the
interpretation of Aeschylus' plays. He shows how the political
statements of the mythical characters made sense of and even
influenced the politics of the day. Finally, he discusses the work
of Sophocles in counterpoint to the plays of Aeschylus.
This book will be of interest to students and academics of
history, particularly the history of the ancient world, as well as
those studying literature and drama.
2. Athens.
3. The significance of festivals in Athens.
4. Tragedy and the festival of Dionysus.
5. Aeschylus.
6. Sophocles.
7. The political foundations of Classicism
interest in fifth-century Athens, let alone those involved in Greek
drama.' Greece and Rome
'This is a powerful thesis.... ... It is extremely welcome to
have a German historian of Meier's calibre not only re-emphasising
the crucial need to recognise historical change in our study of
tragedy, but also demonstrating the importance of tragedy itself to
any fully integrated historical analysis of fifth-century Athens.'
Journal of Hellenic Studies
