II.

Aeschylus’s Life

Our knowledge of Aeschylus’s life comes mainly from prefatory material attached to an 11th-century manuscript of his work. Aeschylus was born in Eleusis, near Athens. His father was a member of the Athenian nobility. Aeschylus fought successfully against the Persian armies at the Battle of Marathon in 490 bc, a fact that was noted with pride on his tombstone. He probably also fought in 480 bc at the Battle of Salamís, of which his play The Persians contains an eyewitness account, and possibly at Plataea the following year. He made at least two trips, perhaps three, to Sicily to produce his plays. During his final visit he died at Gela, where a monument was later erected in his memory.