Review of 'Euripides' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
This was my first encounter with ancient Greek theater. Only about 30 plays survive from antiquity out of thousands lost. Theater in the ancient Greek world, especially in Athens, served as a form of civil religion - a means by which all members of the community witnessed to the stories and themes that bound them together as a community. This collection, translated by Paul Roche, is a great introduction to the genre. Roche helpfully adds stage directions and some commentary to help the reader more fully envision these as pieces to be performed.
The collection contains ten works: "Alcestis," "Hippolytus," "Ion," "Electra," "Iphigenia at Aulis," "Iphigenia among the Taurians," "Medea," "The Bacchae," "The Trojan Women," and "The Cyclops." My favorites in the collection were "Iphigenia at Aulis," "The Bacchae," and "The Trojan Women." All three have been influential on the development of Western theater. They are also really, really good! …
This was my first encounter with ancient Greek theater. Only about 30 plays survive from antiquity out of thousands lost. Theater in the ancient Greek world, especially in Athens, served as a form of civil religion - a means by which all members of the community witnessed to the stories and themes that bound them together as a community. This collection, translated by Paul Roche, is a great introduction to the genre. Roche helpfully adds stage directions and some commentary to help the reader more fully envision these as pieces to be performed.
The collection contains ten works: "Alcestis," "Hippolytus," "Ion," "Electra," "Iphigenia at Aulis," "Iphigenia among the Taurians," "Medea," "The Bacchae," "The Trojan Women," and "The Cyclops." My favorites in the collection were "Iphigenia at Aulis," "The Bacchae," and "The Trojan Women." All three have been influential on the development of Western theater. They are also really, really good! I found myself genuinely moved by the "The Trojan Women," horrified by "The Bacchae," and on the edge of my seat reading "Iphigenia at Aulis.
