Andromache

Euripides (c.480–c.406 BC), translated by Theodoridis, G., (contributor-contact-email)

Euripides’ Athenian tragedy Andromache portrays the life of Hector’s widow, Andromache, during her enslavement by Neoptolemus following the Trojan War. Set years after Troy’s fall, the play focuses on Andromache’s struggles with Hermione, her master’s new wife. The exact date of its first staging is debated, ranging from 428 to 417 BC.

Andromache bears a child, Molossos, with Neoptolemus, who subsequently marries Hermione, daughter of Menelaus and Helen. When their union remained childless, Hermione’s jealousy towards Andromache and Molossos intensifies. In the play, Andromache, fearing for her and Molossos’ lives, seeks sanctuary at Thetis’ temple, hiding Molossos to protect him. The story unfolds with her at the altar, recounting her tragic past and current plight. Hermione confronts Andromache, accusing her of witchcraft and attempting to usurp her position. The arrival of Hermione’s father Menelaus, King of Sparta, raises the tension, as he has uncovered Molossos’ hiding place. Andromache allows herself to be led away, but is saved by the intervention of the aged Peleus, Neoptolemus’ grandfather. The plot is given a fresh twist with Orestes’ unexpected arrival and his abduction of Hermione, to whom he was previously betrothed. Orestes’ role as the architect of Neoptolemus’ subsequent murder at Delphi is revealed. The play concludes with Thetis’ divine intervention, foretelling the futures of the key characters.

Author Details

Euripides, a preeminent Greek tragedian born around 480 BC on the island of Salamis, was a transformative figure in the evolution of ancient Greek drama. He was the son of Mnesarchus, a merchant, and Cleito. Initially destined to be an athlete, as per an oracle’s prophecy, Euripides’ career was redirected towards the arts, encompassing studies in philosophy under Anaxagoras and Prodicus, and painting.

Among the trio of great tragedians, including also Aeschylus and Sophocles, Euripides is noted for his innovative approach to drama. He is credited with infusing classical Greek theatre with a modern sensibility, portraying mythical heroes as ordinary individuals in extraordinary situations. This novel perspective heralded significant developments in drama, influencing later forms including comedy and romance.

Ancient sources attribute as many as 92 plays to him, but only around 18 or 19 have survived in a complete form, with the authorship of “Rhesus” being subject to debate. His works are distinguished by their deep exploration of characters’ inner lives - in stark contrast to the style of his contemporaries.

Euripides’ own life intersected significantly with contemporary intellectual movements, granting Socrates’ and himself prominent positions in Athenian culture - which led to both being criticized by comic poets including Aristophanes.

In his later years, there are conflicting accounts about his voluntary exile and death in Macedonia around 406 BC, with both the assumption his death there, and the nature of his relationship with King Archelaus, being questioned by modern scholars.

His dramatic contributions are multifaceted, marked by a shift from traditional heroic narratives to more nuanced, often controversial, explorations of societal issues and human psychology, in plays characterized by their rhetorical prowess and innovative use of language, reflecting contemporary Athenian society and its complexities.

Despite winning only a few dramatic competitions in his lifetime, Euripides’ impact on the genre of tragedy, and his influence on subsequent generations of playwrights and dramatists, is undeniable. He remains a pivotal figure in the evolution of Western drama.

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Theodoridis, G.,

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