Ἱκέτιδες
Suppliant Women
Aeschylus · first staged City Dionysia, c. 463 BC · first prize
The fifty daughters of Danaus reach Argos, fleeing marriage with their cousins, and ask the city for protection.
Persons, in order of appearance
- Χο.Chorus
- Δα.Danaus
- Βα.Pelasgus
- Δαδ.Danaids
- Αιγ.Egyptians
- Κη.Herald
- Θε.Handmaidens
Translations
- H. W. Smythprose · 1922 · aligned by line · with Smyth's Greek
- E. D. A. Morsheadverse · 1881–1908 · aligned by speech · with Murray's Greek
- Ian Johnston (VIU)verse · aligned by speech · with Murray's Greek
Greek texts
Cite as Aesch. Supp. 1–1073
Full synopsis (tells the ending)
The fifty daughters of Danaus have fled Egypt to escape marriage with their fifty cousins, the sons of Aegyptus. They land at Argos, the home of their ancestor Io, and take refuge at the altars. King Pelasgus must choose between the suppliants' claim on the gods and a war with Egypt, and puts the question to the Argive people. Argos votes to protect them. The Egyptian fleet lands, a herald tries to drag the women off, and Pelasgus drives him away. The war is left for the lost sequels.
Drawing: Line drawing after the 1858 plate of a Nola amphora formerly in the Durand collection (Lenormant and de Witte, Élite des monuments céramographiques III, pl. XX); cut out and retraced, without Poseidon.