Source edition
Euripides. Fragmenta. Tragicorum Graecorum Fragmenta. Nauck, August, editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1889.
Source data
Open Greek and Latin · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
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.
Contents
35 chunks
Cited by fragment