Ion
Subtitle: Orestes ; Phoenician women ; Suppliant women
By: Euripides ; translated by Robin Waterfield ; introduction by Edith Hall ; notes by James Morwood.
Contributors: Waterfield, Robin, 1952-; Morwood, James.
Series: Oxford world's classics; Oxford world's classics (Oxford University Press)
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2001
Place of publication: Oxford; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 219
Subjects: Euripides -- Translations into English; Seven against Thebes (Greek mythology) -- Drama; Adrastus (Greek mythology) -- Drama; Theseus (Greek mythology) -- Drama; Orestes (Greek mythology) -- Drama; Ion (Greek mythology) -- Drama
Genres: Translations into English.; Drama.
Other titles: Ion ; Orestes ; Phoenician women ; Suppliant women; Orestes and other plays; Ion.
Description: "In these four plays Euripides explores ethical and political themes, contrasting the claims of patriotism with family loyalty, pragmatism and expediency with justice, and the idea that 'might is right' with the ideal of clemency.".

"Ion is a vivid portrait of the role of chance in human life and an exploration of family relationships, which combines a sympathetic portrait of a rape victim with remarks on Athenian xenophobia. In Orestes, the most popular of the tragedian's plays in the ancient world, Euripides explores the emotional consequences of Orestes' murder of his mother on the individuals concerned, and makes the tale resonate with advice to Athens about the threat to democracy posed by political pressure groups. Suppliant Women is a commentary on the politics of empire, as the Athenian king Theseus decides to use force of arms rather than persuasion against Thebes.

Phoenician Women transforms the terrible conflict between Oedipus' sons into one of the most savage indictments of civil war in Western literature by highlighting the personal tragedy it brings."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. xlii-li).