The 50 daughters of Danaus [The Danaids] from Egypt had been assigned to marry their first cousins, the 50 sons of Aegyptus, their cousins. They have refused to accept this forced marriage. They have escaped in a ship together with their father and have landed on the coast of Argos. They are now seeking asylum and sanctuary in Argos, by first making supplication to the gods of a temple they have encountered. King Pelasgus of Argos has said he must first obtain permission from his royal council to be able to agree to this and their right to asylum. The Egyptians have sent a force in pursuit to try to re-capture the maidens, to take them back to Egypt.
Hypothesis (Summary) of Aeschylus’ The Suppliants:
“Danaus, son of Belus, fleeing from Egypt with his fifty daughters—the Danaids—so that they might not be married by force to the sons of his brother Aegyptus, arrives by ship at Argos. There, he and his daughters, as suppliants, take refuge at the altars of the gods, seeking protection from King Pelasgus and the Argive people. After King Pelasgus consults with the citizens, the Argives agree to grant them asylum. A herald, sent from Egypt to reclaim the Danaids, appears, but King Pelasgus refuses to surrender them. The play ends with the Danaids remaining in Argos, safeguarded against their pursuers, but the threat of a future conflict lingers.”
The Suppliant Women [Supplices] as a play has a peculiarity, a feature which makes it different from most other surviving Greek plays. In some versions of the text and productions of the play, there are two optional additional speaking choruses. Apart from the Primary chorus of the Suppliant Women [The Danaids] who appear throughout as the leading character in the play, there are, in these other production, additional secondary choruses: one of Egyptian Slave Sailors [Lines 836-871] and a third ensemble of Argive Citizen-Soldiers (male) [Lines 1034-1061], who close the play.
An Egyptian herald has landed with a crew of slave sailors. They have advanced on the Chorus of Maidens in the sanctuary and safety of the sacred grove and have tried to drag them away from the altars to the gods by force and to take them captive back to their ship. At that moment of Pelasgus has entered with a band of armed men who have come to the women's rescue. The Egyptian herald and his men are forced to give way to the stronger force of Pelasgus.
[In some versions of the Danaid myth Aegistus' sons have won a battle in Egypt against Danaus and his forces. The women might therefore be legally considered to be the booty of war, slaves or property (chattels) of Aegistus'sons. This version of the myth and the status of the Women is not apparent from Aeschylus' play, Supplices.]
The third Chorus of Argive Citizens as a speaking part in different versions of the text of the play are sometimes replaced with a Chorus of Handmaidens or Attendants (slaves) to the Danaids.
Quite how all this works out in practice is a matter of stagecraft.
Quite how all this works out in practice is a matter of stagecraft.
Argument
Io, the daughter of Inachus, King of Argos, was beloved of Zeus. But Hera was jealous of that love, and by her ill will was Io given over to frenzy, and her body took the semblance of a heifer: and Argus, a many-eyed herdsman, was set by Hera to watch Io whithersoever she strayed. Yet, in despite of Argus, did Zeus draw nigh unto her in the shape of a bull. And by the will of Zeus and the craft of Hermes was Argus slain. Then Io was driven over far lands and seas by her madness, and came at length to the land of Egypt. There was she restored to herself by a touch of the hand of Zeus, and bare a child called Epaphus. And from Epaphus sprang Libya, and from Libya, Belus; and from Belus, Aegyptus and Danaus. And the sons of Aegyptus willed to take the daughters of Danaus in marriage. But the maidens held such wedlock in horror, and fled with their father over the sea to Argos; and the king and citizens of Argos gave them shelter and protection from their pursuers.
Dramatis Personae
Chorus of Danaids (the 50 daughters of Danaus)
Danaus (father of the daughters, and brother of Aegyptus)
Pelasgus king of Argos
Egyptian Herald (from the 50 sons of Aegyptus)
Chorus of Handmaidens to the Danaids
Optional Supplementary Choruses (as speaking parts):-
Chorus of Egyptian Sailors accompanying the Herald
Chorus of Male Argive Soldier-Citizens [Danaus' bodyguard]
Parodos (Lines 1-175)
Enter the Chorus of Suppliant Maidens with Danaus (their father)
They have arrived by ship from Egypt. They have come in voluntary self-imposed exile, abhorring impious marriages to their cousins, Egyptus’ sons. They begun an appeal for protection to Zeus at a temple close by to the shore where they landed in Argos. They claim Argos is their ancestor Io's homeland, but they do not look Greek: they have dark complexions and wear strange clothes. They are carrying in their hands olive branches decked with wool, symbols of their supplication. They pray to all of the gods in the temple they have found to accept their request, to protect them
...
before that swarm of men arrive from Egypt to rape them and seize them; and take them back to their cousins.
before they seize what law forbids, as cousins to mount on unwilling beds.
...
We gather blooms of sorrow, anxious that a friend, someone, will protect us, exiles from a misty land.
...
O gods ancestral, hear, and look kindly on justice! Don’t grant youth what’s not theirs; show your true loathing of rape.
...
Zeus casts men to destruction. He needs no armed violence; all god’s work is effortless: seated, calm and motionless, from his holy throne his will is accomplished.
...
We invoke your Apian land (Argos). You know our foreign tongue.
...
May the pure daughter of Zeus, who guards sacred walls, may she guard and protect us, a virgin, rescuing virgins,
First Episode [Lines 176-523]:
Danaus speaks to the Chorus (his daughters). He tells them that he sees men armed with shields and spears coming, followed by horses and chariots. He begs prudence from them.
Perhaps the rulers of this land have come to meet us, informed by a messenger.
He tells them that the temple as sanctuary, is far stronger than any fortress. He tells them to sit as suppliants on a rock, holding their wool wrapped olive branches (eiresiône) in their left hands; to look mournful, respectful, and answer needfully all questions posed by the strangers. He reminds them they are foreign refugees, in need, and that boldness never suits the weaker.
With prudence, father, you speak to the prudent. We shall take care and not forget your good commands; may Zeus, our ancestor, be witness.
The Chorus leader addresses the statue of Zeus accompanied by an eagle (the bird of Zeus).
O Zeus, look down and pity us, near death.
and the other gods
(Apollo) Let him sympathize, and defend us eagerly.
(Poseidon) Who brought us here well: may he receive us well.
(Hermes) May he be a good herald to us, now free.
Danaus: Worship all gods here at their common altar. Settle on the sacred ground like doves.
Enter Pelasgus (king of Argos) with attendant soldiers.
Pelasgus: Whence comes this crowd of barbarians? What shall we call you? So outlandishly arrayed in this exotic luxury of robes and headbands, not in Argive fashion nor even in Greek? I wonder too at this: how, without herald, without guide or patron, you have yet dared to come so fearlessly.
He sees that they are bearing before the gods of the temple in Greek fashion their olive branches (eiresiône) like suppliants.
Pelasgus directs the Chorus women to leave their supplicant olive branches by the altar and then to enter the open space part of the grove. They may have sanctuary. Argos will protect and defend them, and never will let them be exposed "to rape by the birds of prey". The Chorus are sceptical. They say that the men who are coming are "more hateful than heartless snakes". Pelasgus says it is not in a king's character to be afraid; if you are excessively afraid, you will become powerless. He tells them to remain in the grove, their father will return soon. He tells them to say their prayers to bring about what they desire. He will leave now to organise everything.
The Chorus Leader tells him that he is right about their dress and asks who he is.
He tells them that he is Pelasgus, the ruler of all Argos, also known as Apia, son of Apollo. He rules over land all the way to Dodona and the Pindar mountains. He enquires about the Chorus' ancestry.
The Chorus Leader tells him they claim by race to be Argives, descendants of that fruitful cow (Io).
Pelasgus tells them that they seem to look more like Libyans or be from the Nile, or many other possibilities, but also that the story of Io is well-founded.
The Chorus Leader then relates the basic myth of Io to Pelasgus; Io had once been Hera's temple priest here in Argos and how she had gone to Egypt. The Chorus leader then described the family trees descendant from her, all the way to the two brothers Aegyptus, who has fifty sons, and Danaus who is their father.
Chorus Leader: We are therefore Argives. You should offer us protection.
Pelasgus: What compelled you to leave your land?
Chorus Leader: So as not to be slaves to Aegyptus' sons.
Pelasgus: Is this from hatred or does the law forbid it?
Chorus Leader: What girl would buy a master from her own family?
Pelasgus: Marriage within the family increases its strength.
Chorus Leader: And if trouble comes divorce is all too easy.
Pelasgus: What can I do to act with piety towards you?
Chorus Leader: Don't give us up to Aegyptus' sons when they demand it.
Pelasgus: This is a hard demand, and might imply war.
Chorus Leader: But Justice gives protection to her allies.
Pelasgus: If she has shared in what you are doing from the very start.
Chorus Leader: But respect these gods who are the helm of the state of Argos, and whose temple has been thus garlanded. [She is implying that Pelasgus must respect their Right to Sanctuary.]
Pelasgus: I shudder as I see these shaded altars: the wrath of Zeus the Protector [Zeus Hikesios] is stern indeed.
An ode (Lines 346-454) is sung between the Chorus and Pelasgus who responds in plain speech.
Pelasgus tells the Chorus that he sees that the altars of the gods have been decked with their supplications, namely the wool-wound olive branches, and that the gods have consequently given their assent to their asylum. But he has to ensure that any new "guests" in his city will not bring strife and ruin down upon it.
Chorus: It's wise to respect supplicants. The gods favour a man of pure heart.
Pelasgus: But you are not from my homeland. I must consult my citizens first.
Chorus: You are the city, and its people. A ruler is not subject to judgement. You rule the land, the hearth and altar with your single vote and sceptre. Enthroned you command and fulfill every need. Beware Pollution.
Pelasgus: I cannot aid you without causing harm. But it is not wise to ignore your prayer.
Chorus: Can you not see the anger of Zeus the Protector persists?
Pelasgus: If Aegistus' sons have power over you by your own city's laws, by claiming they are nearest of kin, who would wish to oppose them? You must plead your own case according to your own laws at home that they lack authority over you.
Chorus: May we never be subject to men. We would rather chart a course to the stars to escape heartless marriages.Choose Justice. Let your judgement honour the gods.
Pelasgus: I would never act alone apart from my people, even though I am their ruler. never let the people say if evil were to occur: "By honouring immigrants you destroyed the city."
Chorus: Why does pelasgus fear to do what is right. Zeus is impartial. In his scales of Justice he measures the holy and unjust fairly.
Pelasgus: We need to think deeply to save us before vengeance brings ruin down upon the city.
Chorus: Betray not the exiles. Be our Protector: pursued from afar, cast out by the godless, let us not be seized. Know the men's violence and beware of the anger of the gods. Do not allow the supplicants to be dragged from this sanctuary. So think! The Justice of Zeus must prevail.
Pelasgus: I have thought well. But here's the rock that strands the ship [of state]: I see no safe haven for it. Costly cargo has had to be jettisoned in the storm. By the grace of Zeus another larger ship may come with its cargo. Words may heal words and the offended soul soothed with charms, but to prevent war, and to prevent the shedding of kindred blood, much sacrifice must be made to the gods to keep this latter curse at bay. I have entered this dispute to my own ruin. but in foreseeing ruin, I choose ignorance rather than knowledge. May good fortune prove me wrong.
Chorus: Let us say just one thing more
Pelasgus: I am listening.
Chorus: You see these girdles that tie our robes. We will use them to deck the effigies of the gods of this sanctuary with dreadful ornaments.
Pelasgus: Stop talking in riddles. Speak plainly.
Chorus: We will immediately hang ourselves upon the shrines using them.
Pelasgus is horrified at this suggestion. He finds himself in a dilemma. Disasters are all around him. He sees that the ship of state can find no safe haven. The suicide of the Chorus of Supplicant Maidens would completely desecrate the holy sanctuary to the gods, a pollution beyond recokoning. Or he can choose to take his stand against the sons of Aegyptus before the walls of his city.
However, it is the wrath of Zeus he fears most. He tells Danaus to deck the other altars to the gods in the city with yet more supplicant olive branches. If the citizens of Argos were to see these and, even if they were to criticise the government, they may be moved to pity the Supplicant Maidens for their plight and wish to deal firmly with the arrogant men who are on their way. Danaus thanks him. Pelasgus directs some attendants to assist him.
Exit Danaus with attendants
However, it is the wrath of Zeus he fears most. He tells Danaus to deck the other altars to the gods in the city with yet more supplicant olive branches. If the citizens of Argos were to see these and, even if they were to criticise the government, they may be moved to pity the Supplicant Maidens for their plight and wish to deal firmly with the arrogant men who are on their way. Danaus thanks him. Pelasgus directs some attendants to assist him.
Exit Danaus with attendants
Pelasgus directs the Chorus women to leave their supplicant olive branches by the altar and then to enter the open space part of the grove. They may have sanctuary. Argos will protect and defend them, and never will let them be exposed "to rape by the birds of prey". The Chorus are sceptical. They say that the men who are coming are "more hateful than heartless snakes". Pelasgus says it is not in a king's character to be afraid; if you are excessively afraid, you will become powerless. He tells them to remain in the grove, their father will return soon. He tells them to say their prayers to bring about what they desire. He will leave now to organise everything.
Exit Pelasgus, with attendants
First Stasimon [Lines 524-599]
First Stasimon [Lines 524-599]
In this ode the Chorus pray supplicantly to Zeus the Protector for sanctuary and protection from the hubris of their suitors. They remind Zeus that Pelasgus has agreed to their protection. They explain that they are his and Io's descendants upon which they elaborate upon in some detail: they claim a familial connection to him. They claim their right by ancient law of sanctuary. They remind Zeus that he was also a liberator of a woman in distress [Io]. He was her embracer; that Io, who, as Zeus’ mistress, had been changed into a cow which had been harassed by Hera's agent [a gad-fly which had perpetually pursued her and chased her across many lands.] That this torment was similar to their experience of having been chased after having escaped from Egypt. They hope Zeus will be their saviour and their total remedy. They remind Zeus that later in Egypt that Io was restored to human form and happiness by the touch of her lover. Later she gave birth to a son, Epaphus who was their direct ancestor.
Second Episode [Lines 600-624]
Enter Danaus. He brings good news.
Danaus: Argos in full assembly has reach an absolute decision favourable to us. They have decided, with one clear voice. We are to live in Argos as free, inviolate guests, and are promised security from mortal malice. No one can touch us, neither Argive not foreigner. And should our enemies use force, any citizen who does not come to our help will suffer loss of their civic rights and be banished. It was King Pelasgus who spoke with fine oratory and eloquence on our behalf. He warned them that Zeus god protector of suppliants might take vegenace on the city dragging it down into ruin if they rejected you, the women. With a show of hands they approved the motion. But it was Zeus who decided the outcome.
Danaus: Argos in full assembly has reach an absolute decision favourable to us. They have decided, with one clear voice. We are to live in Argos as free, inviolate guests, and are promised security from mortal malice. No one can touch us, neither Argive not foreigner. And should our enemies use force, any citizen who does not come to our help will suffer loss of their civic rights and be banished. It was King Pelasgus who spoke with fine oratory and eloquence on our behalf. He warned them that Zeus god protector of suppliants might take vegenace on the city dragging it down into ruin if they rejected you, the women. With a show of hands they approved the motion. But it was Zeus who decided the outcome.
Second Stasimon [Lines 625–709]:
The Chorus sing an ode of thanksgiving to Argos, praising its piety and beg the gods to spare it from all troubles, especially to protect it from Ares, the god of war, and his destructive fire. They have respected the suppliants of Zeus and cast their votes in kindness. They defended the women. And they respect the bond of blood. Their altars are clean. The Chorus bless both the young and old of Argos. Let their city be well-governed while they pay due reverence to Zeus, god of strangers, who has established Right by law immemorial. May Zeus make their soil fertile and bless their women in childbirth. May their cattle produce offspring in abundance. May the people prosper. May their council govern the city wisely and justly. And may the gods who possess this land always be honoured by its citizens, for respect of one's [autochthonic] parents is third amongst the greatest laws of Justice.
The Chorus are afraid. Aegyptus' sons are mad with lust. They are greedy for battle, and have thousands of dark-skinned warriors with them.
The Chorus sing an ode of thanksgiving to Argos, praising its piety and beg the gods to spare it from all troubles, especially to protect it from Ares, the god of war, and his destructive fire. They have respected the suppliants of Zeus and cast their votes in kindness. They defended the women. And they respect the bond of blood. Their altars are clean. The Chorus bless both the young and old of Argos. Let their city be well-governed while they pay due reverence to Zeus, god of strangers, who has established Right by law immemorial. May Zeus make their soil fertile and bless their women in childbirth. May their cattle produce offspring in abundance. May the people prosper. May their council govern the city wisely and justly. And may the gods who possess this land always be honoured by its citizens, for respect of one's [autochthonic] parents is third amongst the greatest laws of Justice.
Third Episode [Lines 710–775]:
Danaus commends his daughters' prayers: "But be warned, I see a ship coming. Beyond doubt it is an Egyptian ship. It has a bow with painted eyes, and it listens well to its tiller's governance. The men are black. Their clothes are white."The Chorus are afraid. Aegyptus' sons are mad with lust. They are greedy for battle, and have thousands of dark-skinned warriors with them.
He urges his daughters to retreat to the altar and do not to forget any of them. The Argives have promised to defend them. Thousands will come their aid.
Chorus: Father, do not leave us alone. We women have no courage. These men are madmen. What care they more for altars than birds who feed on offal? They are arrogant and lustful, fearless as hounds, and are ready to mock the gods.
Danaus: A fleet takes time to put to sea. and yet more time to land. No captain dares to be too hasty in these actions. A ship needs shepherding, especially in the evening and along a habourless coast. No force can disembark till their ship is anchored. Fix your minds on the gods whilst I go to Argos to summon help.
Exit Danaus
Third Stasimon [Lines 776–824]:
The Chorus voice their fears, and express their willingness to die. And once again they pray to Zeus for deliverance.
The Chorus voice their fears, and express their willingness to die. And once again they pray to Zeus for deliverance.
Fourth Episode [Line 825–1017]:
The Chorus of Danaids have spied the Egyptian ship land and the Egyptian Herald and his armed sailors disembark. They rush to the altar for sanctuary.
Chorus: O woe! The Pirate and his ship have landed!
Enter the Egyptian Herald with his armed sailors.
Herald: Away with you as fast as possible to the ship. You will be dragged there by your hair if you do not go.
Chorus: Would that you had sunk on the way here.
Herald: I order you to stop your wailing. Leave the sanctuary, and off to the ship with you. I have no respect for the sanctity of this place.
Chorus: We are natives from here.
Herald: If you do not go we will use force. Wail and shout all you will: you will not escape.
Chorus: What a brutal outrage. May the Nile drown your arrogance and destroy you.
Herald: Go as quickly as possible. Being dragged by your hair will spare you no mercy.
Chorus: O heavenly father and mother protect us from this human fiend who is like a black spider watching his prey and weaving his web, a black dream. Avert this nightmare.
Herald: I do not fear the gods I see here: they did not nurse me or raise me to old age.
Chorus: A two-footed serpent quivers nearby like a viper, bites our feet, a poisonous thing. Avert this fearful creature, father Zeus.
Herald: If you don't agree all that finery you are wearing will be ripped without mercy.
Chorus: O rulers of the city we are being overpowered. We are done for.
Herald: You are not listening. It looks as if we will have to drag you by your hair. You will soon see many lords, the sons of Aegyptus. You will not lack for rulers.
Enter King Pelasgus with armed attendants.
Pelasgus: You there. How dare you violate the customs of this land? Barbarians, do you think you have come to a country ruled by women? You have made a mistake. Know that we are Greeks. You've lost your mind! Foreigners must learn to show greater respect. You have to be taught how to behave.
Herald: What mistake? Where have we transgressed our right to do this? We have found here what we had lost.
Pelasgus: Did you seek any Argive to be your spokeman and patron to argue your case before the Council?
Herald: We sought the assistance of Hermes the Searcher.
Pelasgus: For all your appeal to the gods, you do them no reverence.
Herald: I revere the deities by the Nile.
Pelasgus: So ours are nothing to you?
Herald: I shall carry off these maidens unless someone else claims them.
Pelasgus: You will regret it if you touch them.
Herald: That's not very friendly to a visitor.
Pelasgus: I do not befriend those who rob the gods.
Herald: I shall return to Aegyptus' sons, and tell them about what I have encountered.
Pelasgus: I guard my flock. What you threaten does not frighten me.
Pelasgus: Did you seek any Argive to be your spokeman and patron to argue your case before the Council?
Herald: We sought the assistance of Hermes the Searcher.
Pelasgus: For all your appeal to the gods, you do them no reverence.
Herald: I revere the deities by the Nile.
Pelasgus: So ours are nothing to you?
Herald: I shall carry off these maidens unless someone else claims them.
Pelasgus: You will regret it if you touch them.
Herald: That's not very friendly to a visitor.
Pelasgus: I do not befriend those who rob the gods.
Herald: I shall return to Aegyptus' sons, and tell them about what I have encountered.
Pelasgus: I guard my flock. What you threaten does not frighten me.
Herald: It is the job of a herald to make an exact report of the situation. Who shall I say has told me all this and deprived me of these women? The god of battle does not settle cases like this with silver, but with the many bodies of those who fall to the ground, dead.
Pelasgus: You will find out soon enough. You have no need of my name. If any of these women are willing to go with you they may may board your ship now. But you may not take any against their will. Our Council passed a decree with a unanimous vote that we will never surrender any of these women to force. This decree is not written down on parchment or papyrus scrolls, nor etched into stone, but you have heard it announced by the tongue of a free man. Get out of my sight immediately!
Herald: I think we may have to go to war on this. May victory and rule be granted to the males [Aegistus' sons].
Pelasgus: Be aware that the men of our land do not drink watered-down wine.
Exit the Egyptian Herald with his armed escort of sailors.
Pelasgus [To the Chorus of Danaids]: Take courage. Proceed with your handmaidens to our city with its high protective walls, encircled and secured with a system of defensive towers. You may either be guests in my palace, if you are willing to share it with many others, but if you prefer you may find separate abodes. Choose what suits you best. I and all the citizens of the city are your lawful protectors. What better right has anyone else than they to be your champions?
Chorus [To Pelasgus]: May you be showered with rewards for your kind goodness. Please, with favour, bring our father here to us. He will help to guide our choices, and decide the neighboods where we will live. People are often prejudiced against those who speak in a foreign tongue.
Exit King Pelasgus with his attendants
Chorus [to their handmaidens]: Do not provoke the natives into making any angry utterances. Find your mistresses, those ones to whom you were given by Danaus as part of her dowry, to wait upon her.
Chorus [to their handmaidens]: Do not provoke the natives into making any angry utterances. Find your mistresses, those ones to whom you were given by Danaus as part of her dowry, to wait upon her.
Enter Danaus
Danaus has returned with an bodyguard of Argive soldier citizens. He addresses his daughters. He declares to them it is wholly right for them to pour libations, make prayers to and perform sacrifices to the gods of Argos as they have now given them full protection. He explains that the city of Argos has given him this guard of honour to defend him against possible assassination. He and his daughters must now be eternally grateful to Argos, and not to bring shame upon them. He begs his daughters to behave modestly in their new homeland, not to tempt the young men of the city, nor to give succour to their enemies. They can now live happily in their new homes, with all expenses paid. Above all they must guard their chastity.
Exodos [Lines 1018–1073]:
The Chorus of Danaid Women promise faithfully to do that. They call upon their handmaidens to do the same, to sing praises to Argos, not to the land of the Nile, but to the rivers which flow through this their new homeland, for its fecundity. May its rivers gladden the earth.
The Chorus of Handmaidens to the Danaids answer the principal Chorus of Danaids [sometimes, in some translations this chorus is formed from the men acting as the bodyguard of Danaus]. They sing a warning that they fear Desire may take hold, harm may come, distress and bloody war. How ever did they manage to escape so easily. Whatever, the will of Zeus must prevail: whatever is fated must come to pass. Marriage is destiny of most women.
One Danaid: May Zeus defend me from marriage with Aegyptus' race.
One Handmaiden: That would be best.
One Danaid: That would be like moving an immovable object.
One Handmaiden: Can you foresee the future?
One Danaid: How can I fathom the depths of Zeus' mind?
One Handmaiden: May your prayers be modest. Do not demand too much of the gods.
Both Choruses: May almighty Zeus Protector spare us cruel marriage with men we hate as he has already done. May he grant victory to the women. Above all deliverance and conflicting rights must follow the course of Justice.
Exeunt Danaus and the Choruses of the Daniads and their Handmaidens. They depart for Argos.
References
The Suppliants (Aeschylus) - Wikipedia
Danaïdes - Wikipedia
Argos, Peloponnese - Wikipedia
Pelasgus - Wikipedia
Apis of Argos - Wikipedia
Io - GreekMythology.com
The Myth of Io [The Egyptians call her Isis] and the Danaids
Apollodorus, Library, book 2, chapter 1, sections 3-5 Sir George Frazier
Isis & Io – Isiopolis
Aeschylus: Suppliants (Ἱκέτιδες) - - Major Reference Works - Wiley Online Library
Suppliants by Aeschylus - GreekMythology.com
The Suppliants - Aeschylus - Ancient Greece - Classical Literature
Myth of the Danaides - Greek Myths -Greeka.com
The Danaids - GreekMythology.com
Hermes - Wikipedia
Albrecht Dihle (15 April 2013). History of Greek Literature: From Homer to the Hellenistic Period. Routledge. pp. 99–. ISBN 978-1-134-67977-5.
Thalia Papadopoulou (2014). Aeschylus: Suppliants. A&C Black. ISBN 978-1-4725-2149-1.
Bonner, Campbell. “A Study of the Danaid Myth.” Harvard Studies in Classical Philology, vol. 13, 1902, pp. 129–173. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/310344
Geoffrey W. Bakewell (16 August 2013). Aeschylus’s Suppliant Women: The Tragedy of Immigration. University of Wisconsin Pres. ISBN 978-0-299-29173-0.
Martin L. West (24 July 2015). Studies in Aeschylus. Supplices: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. pp. 126–. ISBN 978-3-11-094806-6.
Mitchell, Lynette G. “Greeks, Barbarians and Aeschylus' ‘Suppliants.’” Greece & Rome, vol. 53, no. 2, 2006, pp. 205–223. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/4122471
Lembke, Janet. “Aeschylus' Suppliants: Design in a Beholder's Eye.” Arion: A Journal of Humanities and the Classics, vol. 1, no. 4, 1973, pp. 627–639. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/20163349
Verdenius, W. J. “Notes on the Parodos of Aeschylus' Suppliants.” Mnemosyne, vol. 38, no. 3/4, 1985, pp. 281–306. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/4431420
Richmond Yancey Hathorn (1967). Crowell's Handbook of Classical Drama. Crowell. pp. 108–9.
Crowell's handbook of classical drama - OpenLibrary
K. Paul Bednarowski. “The Danaids' Threat: Obscurity, Suspense and the Shedding of Tradition in Aeschylus' Suppliants.” The Classical Journal, vol. 105, no. 3, 2010, pp. 193–212. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/10.5184/classicalj.105.3.193
McCall, Marsh. “The Secondary Choruses in Aeschylus' ‘Supplices.’” California Studies in Classical Antiquity, vol. 9, 1976, pp. 117–131. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/25010703
Winnington-Ingram, R. P. “The Danaid Trilogy of Aeschylus.” The Journal of Hellenic Studies, vol. 81, 1961, pp. 141–152. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/628084
Lloyd-Jones, Hugh. “THE «SUPPLICES» OF AESCHYLUS: THE NEW DATE AND OLD PROBLEMS.” L'Antiquité Classique, vol. 33, no. 2, 1964, pp. 356–374. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41647495
A. F. Garvie; Aeschylus (1969). Aeschylus' Supplices: Play and Trilogy. CUP Archive.
R Rehm - Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies, 1988 - grbs.library.duke.edu
A. F. Garvie (16 October 2013). The Plays of Aeschylus. Suppliants: A&C Black. pp. 25–. ISBN 978-1-4725-1989-4.
Aeschylus D.J. Conacher (1996 edition) - Open Library
Suppliants
Zeus :: Greek God of the Sky and Thunder, King of the Gods
Baring the Aegis: Iketiria and eiresiône: supplicant branches
Baring the Aegis: Places of worship: groves
Looking Back to Greece: Exiles in the Ancient World – Critical Stages/Scènes critiques
Greek Versions
Suppliant Women - Aeschylus - Google Books
Alan H. Sommerstein (4 September 2019). Aeschylus: Suppliants. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-108-75293-0.
Aeschylus: Suppliant Women - Google Books
Aeschylus, Suppliant Women - Perseus Digital Library
Translations
Aeschylus; tr. Frederick Apthorp PALEY (1864). Æschylus translated into English prose. By Frederick A. Paley. Deighton, Bell & Company.
Suppliants (Aeschylus) - Wikisource,
The Internet Classics Archive - The Suppliants by Aeschylus
Aeschylus, Suppliant Women - Perseus Digital Library
Aeschylus (2003). Prometheus Bound and Other Plays. Penguin Books Limited. ISBN 978-0-14-191581-4.
Prometheus bound ; The suppliants ; Seven against Thebes ; The Persians : Aeschylus - Internet Archive
Prometheus bound ; The suppliants ; Seven against Thebes ; The Persians : Aeschylus - Internet Archive
Four Plays of Aeschylus, by Aeschylus - Project Gutenberg
L 145 Aeschylus I Suppliant Persians Prometheus Seven Against Thebes - Internet Archive
Aeschylus I (2013 edition) - Open Library
Aeschylus (2013). Aeschylus I: The Persians, The Seven Against Thebes, The Suppliant Maidens, Prometheus Bound. The Suppliant Maidens translated by Seth Bernadete: University of Chicago Press. pp. 113–. ISBN 978-0-226-31145-6.
The Suppliant women <Supplices> (1930 edition) - Open Library
Aeschylus (28 February 2008). Aeschylus: Persians and Other Plays. OUP Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-814968-2.
Aeschylus: Suppliants. Companions to Greek and Roman Tragedy – Bryn Mawr Classical Review
Audio/Visual
Suppliants, Aeschylus - YouTube
https://youtu.be/zhFk9p08f3s
