Euripides
Greek · Drama · Tragedy · Satyr Play · Tragedy; Poetry
22 works · 66,576 aligned sentences
Birth: 480 BC / Death: 407 BC
Classical Athens → Macedonia · tragedy writer · playwright · writer
θυμὸς δὲ κρείσσων τῶν ἐμῶν βουλευμάτων.
My passion is stronger than my plans.
Medea 1079
Alcestis
This drama centers on the noble wife Alcestis, who chooses to die in place of her husband, King Admetus. Set in front of the royal palace, the play begins with a confrontation between Apollo and Thanatos, the personification of Death. Alcestis bids a heartbreaking farewell to her husband and children before passing away, plunging the household into deep mourning. In the midst of this grief, the hero Heracles arrives, and Admetus conceals his sorrow to offer him warm hospitality. However, a bitter dispute arises between Admetus and his father Pheres over their fear of death, highlighting the complex nature of sacrifice. Upon discovering the truth about his host's bereavement, a remorseful Heracles resolves to battle Death to rescue the queen. Ultimately, he returns with a veiled woman who is revealed to be Alcestis, bringing the play to a miraculous and joyous resolution.
Drama13 chunks · §1-85–§1083-11633,002 aligned sentencesRead →Andromache
This Greek tragedy vividly depicts the suffering of Andromache, who has been enslaved following the fall of Troy, and the tangled network of jealousy and power among her captors. Set in Phthia in Thessaly, the drama centers on the life-threatening conflict between Andromache, the captive concubine of Neoptolemus, and his barren wife Hermione, who is backed by her father Menelaus. The plot begins with Andromache seeking sanctuary at the shrine of Thetis, only to be forced into a cruel choice between her own life and that of her child, until the intervention of the aged Peleus temporarily rescues them. However, the crisis escalates as Orestes arrives to exploit Hermione's panic, plotting the assassination of Neoptolemus at Delphi. In the end, as Peleus despairs over the tragic news and the corpse of his grandson, the goddess Thetis descends to offer divine prophecies of future hope and apotheosis, bringing a solemn and mythological resolution to this tale of survival and sorrow.
Drama15 chunks · §1-80–§1196-12882,608 aligned sentencesRead →Children of Heracles
This Greek tragedy depicts the struggle of the children of the deceased hero Heracles, who flee to Athens under the protection of the elderly Iolaus to escape persecution. Staged at a temple in Marathon, Athens, the drama unfolds as the Athenian king Demophon resolves to protect them against the threats of King Eurystheus of Argos. Although a divine oracle demands a noble virgin sacrifice to secure victory, Heracles' daughter Macaria voluntarily offers her life, paving the way for battle. During the conflict, the aged Iolaus miraculously regains his youth on the battlefield and succeeds in capturing the enemy commander, Eurystheus. In the final climax, tension arises between the Athenian law prohibiting the execution of prisoners and the vengeful desire of Heracles' mother, Alcmene, culminating in a compromise that leads to Eurystheus' execution.
Drama13 chunks · §1-79–§976-10552,406 aligned sentencesRead →Cyclops
This work is the only surviving complete satyr play from ancient Greece, based on the famous episode of the one-eyed giant Cyclops (Polyphemus) from Homer's "Odyssey". Set at the foot of Mount Etna, the story begins when the shipwrecked Odysseus and his crew arrive at the island where Silenus and the chorus of satyrs are enslaved by the giant. Odysseus attempts to trade wine for provisions, but the returning Cyclops, who rejects the laws of the gods, imprisons the Greeks and devours some of his men. Facing grave danger, Odysseus devises a cunning plan to intoxicate the monster with fine wine and blind his single eye with a heated olive stake. Despite the comical cowardice and shifting loyalties of Silenus and the satyrs, Odysseus successfully executes his plot using the famous "Nobody" pseudonym trick. In the end, Odysseus reveals his true identity and escapes the island, leading the newly freed satyrs away in a triumphant and lively conclusion.
Drama8 chunks · §1-102–§625-7092,147 aligned sentencesRead →Electra
This Greek tragedy depicts the brutal revenge of a sister and brother for the murder of their father, Agamemnon. The play is set at a poor peasant's cottage in the countryside of Argos, where Electra, forced into a humble marriage, laments her miserable fate and her father's death. Her exiled brother, Orestes, returns in secret, and with the help of an old tutor, the siblings achieve a dramatic reunion. United in their quest for vengeance, Orestes slays Aegisthus, while Electra lures their mother, Clytemnestra, to her cottage under the false pretense of having given birth. Despite Orestes' intense inner conflict over the oracle commanding matricide, the siblings carry out the murder of their mother. However, their completed revenge leaves them consumed by deep guilt and anguish, until the divine Dioscuri appear to decree their future wanderings, trials, and painful separation.
Drama15 chunks · §1-84–§1254-13592,888 aligned sentencesRead →First Stasimon of Orestes
This work is a choral song (stasimon) from a Greek tragedy, depicting the intense suffering of Orestes, who has been driven to madness by the Furies for the crime of matricide. The chorus vividly compares the sudden madness and torment assaulting him to a swift ship caught in a violent storm at sea. Deeply pitying the tragic fate that has befallen the once-glorious house of Tantalus, they lament the vulnerability of mortals in the face of divine retribution. This brief yet powerful choral ode leaves a haunting impression of the inescapable weight of guilt and the misery of human existence.
Drama1 chunks · §112 aligned sentencesRead →Fragments
This collection comprises numerous surviving fragments and maxims from lost ancient Greek tragedies, primarily those of Euripides. The compilation covers a wide range of universal ethical and philosophical themes, including wealth and poverty, old age, the power of love, and the acceptance of fate, alongside vivid dramatic mythological scenes. In the earlier sections, dramatic episodes such as Perseus rescuing Andromeda and the famous debate between Amphion and Zethus unfold, emphasizing human limitations and the uncertainty of fortune. As the collection progresses, it features emotionally charged dialogues, including a mother's noble resolve to sacrifice her daughter for her homeland and the tragic downfall of Phaethon. Natural-philosophical views on life and death, as well as inquiries into the absurd judgments of the gods, are repeatedly raised. Throughout the fragments, the universal wisdom and conflicts of human beings facing unreasonable realities are vividly portrayed through striking verses and dialogues.
Fragmentary Texts35 chunks · §1-42–§1110-11326,203 aligned sentencesRead →Hecuba
This Greek tragedy depicts the immense suffering and fierce revenge of Hecuba, the former queen of Troy, in the aftermath of her city's fall. Set on the coast of Thrace, the play begins with Hecuba learning that her beloved daughter Polyxena must be sacrificed to appease the ghost of the Greek hero Achilles. While Hecuba mourns this loss, she is struck by an even crueler blow: the corpse of her youngest son, Polydorus, washes ashore, revealing that their Thracian ally, King Polymestor, murdered him for gold. Overwhelmed by grief and betrayal, Hecuba secures the tacit consent of the Greek leader Agamemnon to exact a brutal vengeance. Under the pretext of revealing hidden treasure, she lures Polymestor and his children into her tent, where she and the captive Trojan women slaughter the sons and blind the king. The play concludes with Agamemnon sentencing the blinded king to exile on a desert island, while Polymestor prophesies a grim fate for Hecuba as the Greeks prepare to sail away.
Drama15 chunks · §1-92–§1221-12952,922 aligned sentencesRead →Helen
This Greek tragedy is set on the premise that the beautiful Helen, who was blamed for causing the Trojan War, was actually kept in Egypt while only her phantom went to Troy. The drama takes place in front of the Egyptian royal palace, where Helen, striving to remain faithful, is unexpectedly reunited with her shipwrecked husband, Menelaus. Initially, Menelaus is bewildered and refuses to believe she is his real wife, but once he learns of the phantom's disappearance, the couple shares a joyous reconciliation. To escape the Egyptian king Theoclymenus, who wishes to marry Helen, they devise a daring escape plan centered around a mock funeral at sea for the supposedly deceased Menelaus. Their clever plot succeeds, and although the king is initially enraged, the appearance of the divine twins, the Dioscuri, pacifies his anger and ensures the couple's safe return home under divine providence.
Drama20 chunks · §1-80–§1619-16924,154 aligned sentencesRead →Heracles
This ancient Greek tragedy depicts the brutal fate and the struggle for survival faced by the legendary hero Heracles. Set in Thebes, the story begins in Heracles' absence, as the usurper Lycus threatens to execute his elderly father Amphitryon, his wife Megara, and his children. Just as they prepare for death, Heracles miraculously returns from the underworld and slays the tyrant, saving his family. However, their joy is short-lived; driven mad by the goddess Lyssa under Hera's command, Heracles loses his mind and slaughters his own wife and children. Upon regaining his senses and discovering the horrific truth, he is plunged into despair and contemplates suicide. Ultimately, his loyal friend Theseus persuades him to endure his tragic destiny and live on, leading him to Athens to start anew.
Drama16 chunks · §1-85–§1350-14283,216 aligned sentencesRead →Hippolytus
This Greek tragedy depicts the terrifying revenge of the goddess Aphrodite upon the young Hippolytus, who disdains the goddess of love and prides himself on his devotion to the virgin goddess Artemis. Set in Troezen, the tragedy unfolds as Hippolytus's stepmother, Phaedra, suffers from a forbidden love for him. To preserve her honor, Phaedra decides to end her life, but leaves behind a false letter accusing Hippolytus of violating her. Believing the accusation, his father, Theseus, furiously invokes the curse of Poseidon, banishing his son and driving him to destruction. As the mortally wounded Hippolytus is brought back, Artemis appears to reveal the truth behind the deception. Ultimately, the father and son reconcile in deep sorrow before Hippolytus passes away, leaving a poignant contrast between the cruelty of the gods and human dignity.
Drama16 chunks · §1-93–§1379-14663,271 aligned sentencesRead →Ion
This Greek tragedy, set at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, depicts the extraordinary destinies of a young temple servant with a secret lineage and an Athenian princess grieving her lost child. The protagonist, Ion, lives a peaceful life of service until the arrival of Creusa, the Princess of Athens, and her husband Xuthus, who have come to seek a cure for their childlessness. Through an oracle, Xuthus is led to believe that Ion is his own son and plans to take him back to Athens, driving the despairing Creusa—unaware of Ion's true identity—to plot the youth's murder. The assassination attempt narrowly fails, leading to a tense confrontation where an enraged Ion seeks to execute Creusa for her treason. Just as violence looms, the discovery of Ion's childhood tokens reveals the miraculous truth that they are actually mother and son. Finally, the goddess Athena appears to explain Apollo's divine plan and foretell Ion's glorious future, guiding them toward reconciliation and joy.
Drama19 chunks · §1-83–§1547-16224,328 aligned sentencesRead →Iphigenia in Aulis
This Greek tragedy depicts the harrowing dilemma of Agamemnon, the leader of the Greek expedition, who is forced to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia in the port of Aulis to appease the goddess Artemis and secure favorable winds for Troy. To bring her to the camp, Agamemnon devises a deceptive plot, promising her marriage to the hero Achilles, but he soon becomes tormented by regret. When his wife Clytemnestra and Iphigenia arrive, the deception is uncovered, prompting an outraged Achilles to vow protection and sparking intense confrontations over the morality of the sacrifice. Despite desperate pleas from her mother and herself, the pressure of the assembled army demanding war makes the sacrifice seemingly inevitable. In a dramatic turn, Iphigenia courageously embraces her fate, choosing a noble self-sacrifice for the sake of Greece rather than causing further bloodshed. At the altar, a divine miracle occurs as she is suddenly replaced by a deer and saved by the goddess, allowing the Greek fleet to set sail at last.
Drama19 chunks · §49-22–§1552-16293,953 aligned sentencesRead →Iphigenia in Tauris
This drama centers on the Greek princess Iphigenia, who, after being saved from sacrifice at Aulis by the goddess Artemis, serves as a priestess in the barbarian land of Tauris. Plagued by ominous dreams, she is tasked with the grim duty of preparing captured Greeks for human sacrifice. The plot intensifies when her long-lost brother Orestes, driven by the Furies for matricide, arrives with his loyal friend Pylades to steal the sacred statue of Artemis, only for both to be captured. Meeting without knowing each other's identities, a letter intended for Greece leads to a dramatic recognition between the siblings, who then joyfully hatch a daring escape plan. Iphigenia deceives King Thoas under the pretext of cleansing the prisoners' impurities in the sea and flees with the holy statue. Although an adverse wind threatens their escape and leaves them stranded, the goddess Athena intervenes, halting King Thoas's pursuit and ensuring their safe return to Greece to establish a new cult.
Drama17 chunks · §1-82–§1414-14993,464 aligned sentencesRead →Letters
This collection of letters, attributed to the Athenian tragic poet Euripides, centers on his journey to and stay at the court of King Archelaus of Macedon. Writing to various friends and to the king himself, the author articulates his ethical stance, emphasizing his spirit of self-sufficiency (autarkeia) and his refusal of excessive funds and gifts. The correspondence also reveals personal connections, such as his relief and concern over the shipwreck of his fellow dramatist Sophocles. Furthermore, the author praises King Archelaus for his wise and humane governance, particularly his patronage of scholars and artists. In defending himself against public criticism that he sought wealth in his old age, the writer strongly denies any greed for money or power, presenting instead a portrait of a poet dedicated to intellectual and moral integrity.
Others6 chunks · §1.1-1.2–§5.4-5.6280 aligned sentencesRead →Medea
This classical Greek tragedy depicts the fierce revenge of Medea, a foreign princess betrayed by her husband. Set in Corinth, the drama begins as Jason, who once owed his glory to Medea's devotion, decides to marry the daughter of King Creon, leading to the banishment of Medea and her children. Consumed by anger and despair, Medea secures a one-day reprieve from the king and plans her vengeance after obtaining a promise of sanctuary from the King of Athens. She feigns reconciliation with Jason and uses their children to deliver poisoned gifts to the new bride, resulting in the gruesome deaths of the princess and the king. Despite a painful internal conflict between maternal love and her desire for revenge, Medea ultimately decides to slaughter her own children. At the play's climax, she departs for Athens in a chariot sent by the sun god, leaving the devastated Jason behind and illustrating the terrifying power of human passion ('thumos').
Drama16 chunks · §1-86–§1333-14193,104 aligned sentencesRead →Orestes
This Greek tragedy depicts the harrowing fate of Orestes and his sister Electra after Orestes murders their mother to avenge their father, Agamemnon. Suffering from madness inflicted by the Furies for his matricide, Orestes faces the imminent threat of being sentenced to death by the citizens of Argos. The siblings desperately seek help from their uncle Menelaus, newly returned from Troy, but he betrays them, and the citizen assembly ultimately condemns them to death. Driven to despair, Orestes and Electra, along with their loyal friend Pylades, plot to assassinate Menelaus's wife, Helen, and take her daughter, Hermione, hostage as revenge. As the plan spirals into chaos, Orestes confronts Menelaus from the palace roof, holding a sword to Hermione's throat. Just as a bloody clash seems inevitable, the god Apollo suddenly appears to deliver a divine decree, miraculously resolving the conflicts and bringing an end to the curse of the House of Atreus.
Drama20 chunks · §1-82–§1609-16934,246 aligned sentencesRead →Rhesus
This drama depicts a single tense night during the Trojan War, focusing on the arrival and tragic fate of the Thracian ally King Rhesus (Rhēsos). Set in the Trojan camp, the story begins with Hector preparing to counter suspicious movements in the Greek fleet, while dispatching Dolon as a spy to scout the enemy lines. Soon after, King Rhesus arrives with his magnificent army and boasts of an easy victory, after which Hector assigns him a campsite. Meanwhile, the Greek infiltrators Odysseus and Diomedes, guided by the goddess Athena, slip into the camp and assassinate the sleeping Rhesus. When Rhesus's wounded charioteer accuses Hector of treachery, a heated confrontation ensues until the Muse, Rhesus's mother, descends to reveal the truth of her son's death. The play concludes with a poignant lament from the Muse, prompting Hector to rally his forces for a final, decisive assault at dawn.
Drama11 chunks · §1-96–§909-9962,195 aligned sentencesRead →The Bacchae
This Greek tragedy depicts the catastrophic conflict between Pentheus, the young king of Thebes, and the god Dionysus, whose divinity the king refuses to acknowledge. Arriving in Thebes in human disguise, Dionysus drives the city's women into a state of ecstatic madness on Mount Cithaeron as vengeance for his rejected worship. Pentheus attempts to suppress the new cult, but the disguised god craftily exploits the king's curiosity, persuading him to dress as a woman to spy on the mountain rituals. This deception leads to a horrific climax, in which Pentheus is brutally torn to pieces by the maddened women, led by his own mother, Agave. When Agave returns to sanity and realizes the dreadful crime she has committed, Dionysus appears in his divine form to exile the remaining royal family, bringing the play to a tragic close.
Drama15 chunks · §1-100–§1304-13922,928 aligned sentencesRead →The Phoenician Women
This Greek tragedy depicts the brutal conflict between Eteocles and Polyneices, the two sons of Oedipus, as they fight for the throne of Thebes. Their mother, Jocasta, attempts to mediate a reconciliation between Polyneices, who has marched on his homeland with an Argive army, and Eteocles, who refuses to yield his royal power. However, the brothers' mutual hatred and ambition lead to a complete breakdown of negotiations, plunging the city into war. As the battle rages, the young Menoeceus sacrifices himself to save the city, leading to a fierce clash that culminates in a duel between the two brothers. Ultimately, the brothers slay each other, and their grief-stricken mother takes her own life. The play concludes with the newly empowered Creon exiling the blind Oedipus, while Antigone resolutely chooses to accompany her father into exile, highlighting the relentless tragedy of the house of Oedipus.
Drama20 chunks · §1-83–§1673-17663,978 aligned sentencesRead →The Suppliants
This tragedy depicts the conflict surrounding the recovery and burial of the Argive soldiers who fell in the failed expedition against Thebes. Set at the temple of Eleusis, the mothers of the deceased generals, along with King Adrastus of Argos, supplicate Aethra, the mother of the Athenian king Theseus, for assistance. Initially, Theseus refuses to help, criticizing Adrastus for leading a reckless and unjust war, but he is eventually persuaded by his mother Aethra to intervene for the sake of divine law and Athenian honor. Following a heated debate with a Theban herald over the merits of democracy versus tyranny, Theseus leads Athens to a military victory to retrieve the bodies. During the subsequent, grief-stricken funeral rites, the tragedy deepens as Evadne, the widow of Capaneus, leaps into her husband's funeral pyre. Finally, the goddess Athena appears, commanding Theseus to secure an oath of future vengeance from the children of the fallen, bringing the play to a close amidst lingering sorrow and the cycle of war.
Drama14 chunks · §1-95–§1147-12342,537 aligned sentencesRead →The Trojan Women
This tragedy depicts the devastating fate of the defeated Trojan women in the immediate aftermath of the Trojan War. Set on the shores of the fallen and ruined city of Troy, the drama centers on the former queen, Hecuba, alongside women like Cassandra and Andromache, as they face the harsh reality of being distributed as slaves to the Greek conquerors. At the outset, the gods Poseidon and Athena conspire to punish the Greeks on their return journey, yet the mortals remain unaware of this divine retribution. As the plot unfolds, relentless tragedies strike the captive women, including Cassandra's wild prophecies of doom and the brutal execution of Andromache's young son, Astyanax. Following a confrontation between Hecuba and Helen over the latter's guilt, the play reaches a sorrowful climax as Hecuba buries her grandson on Hector's shield. Ultimately, as Troy is set ablaze, the women sing their final laments and are led away to the ships, beginning their lives of exile and servitude.
Drama14 chunks · §1-84–§1233-13322,734 aligned sentencesRead →