
In this ancient tragedy we are taken into the palace of Admetus, king of the Phereans, where a solemn promise hangs over the household. The king has bargained with the god of the underworld to spare his own life, and in return his beloved wife Alcestis volunteers to die in his place. Their devotion and the weight of fate are felt immediately, as Apollo descends the marble steps, bow in hand, to confront the looming darkness.
The drama quickly introduces the stern figure of Death, who arrives armed and intent on claiming the life promised to him. A tense dialogue unfolds between the divine messenger and the god of light, each defending their own sense of justice and loyalty. As the characters grapple with love, sacrifice, and the inexorable pull of destiny, the audience is drawn into a poignant exploration of what it means to honor a promise at the cost of one’s own soul.
Language
el
Duration
~1 hours (61K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Sophia Canoni
Release date
2009-01-31
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
d. -406
One of the three great tragedians of classical Athens, he pushed Greek drama toward a more human, unsettling style. His plays are filled with sharp emotion, moral conflict, and unforgettable figures such as Medea, Hippolytus, and The Bacchae.
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