Euripides: Iphigenia in Tauris

2016 | Essays

Euripides' Iphigenia in Tauris is the tale of how two children of Agamemnon whose lives have been blighted in youth are brought together for mutual salvation and for the healing of the calamitous house of Pelops. Aristotle makes more complimentary references to the play than any other Attic tragedy, apart from Sophocles' Oedipus the King, and even less favourable critics recognize the extraordinary skill of its construction. Comprising an introduction, the Greek text, and commentary, this volume is designed to be useful to a wide range of readers, facilitating a close and accurate reading of one of Euripides' more frequently studied plays. The introduction explores earlier and later re-interpretations of the story of Iphigenia, the adoption of narrative motifs in New Comedy, Roman comedy, and the ancient novel, differing critical assessments, and more technical information on metre and textual transmission. The commentary features guidance on vocabulary and syntax, while more advanced material, including textual discussion, is included in parenthesis.

L.P.E. Parker (Author)