You're going to be. So, The Hello and welcome back to the history of ancient Greece.

Episode 53, Europides at war.

Last episode we discussed some of the surviving plays from the earliest part of

Europeides' life, the most famous of which was Medea. As the Peloponnesian War

exploded forth at the end of the 430s BC. The situation in Athens changed drastically and so too did the tone of Euripides' plays.

At the outset of the war, we see in his plays an underlying theme of patriotic sentiment.

The first of those, Heraclidei, or the Children of Heracles, performed in 430 BC, shows a patriotic pro-Aethenian anti-Doreen undertone throughout.

As we discussed in episode 47, Eurystheists, the King of Mycini, either directly or indirectly, was responsible for many of the troubles that plagued his cousin Heracles.

And so after Heracles' death, in order to prevent his children from taking revenge on him,

Eurystheus sought to kill them.

He also could have chosen this course of action because of the hatred that he had for Heracles'

family.

Regardless, they fled under the protection of IOLus, Heracles' close friend and nephew.

After many wanderings, they were taken in by Athens in their King Demophone, the son of Theseus and Phaedra.

Yurpides' play begins at the altar of Zeus at Athens.

A herald, sent by Eurystheus, attempts to seize the children of Heracles, as well as Iolus.

When Demophon insists that Iolus and Heracles' children are under his protection.

The Herald threatens to return with an army.

Demophone, though, is prepared to protect the children, even at the cost of fighting a war

against Eurystheus. But after consulting the Oracle, he learns that the Athenians

would only be victorious if and only if they sacrifice him Baden of noble birth to Persephone.

Demophon tells IOLus that as much as he would like to help, he would not sacrifice his own child

...