Aeschylus

Born around 525 BCE in Eleusis, Aeschylus is often called the father of tragedy. He was one of the first playwrights whose work survived in substantial form, and ancient tradition credits him with expanding the possibilities of the stage by developing dialogue and dramatic structure.

He lived through a turbulent period in Greek history and is said to have fought in the Persian Wars, an experience that likely deepened the civic and moral force of his writing. His plays often explore guilt, revenge, divine will, and the slow, painful movement from violence toward justice.

Only a handful of his tragedies survive, but they include some of the most influential works in Western literature, especially the Oresteia trilogy and The Persians. Even after more than two millennia, his drama remains powerful for its scale, intensity, and sense that human choices matter within a larger moral order.