Children of Heracles
About this book
This edition and commentary provides an introduction to one of Euripides' less well-known plays, and describes the enormous value of the text for our understanding of Athenian drama, religion, and society. Despite the excellent commentaries of Elmsley (1821) and Pearson (1907), and powerful articles by Wilamowitz, the play has not been given the notice it deserves. This edition interprets the play in a wide cultural setting, considering unorthodox aspects of the structure of the drama, but placing particular emphasis on the cults and myths of Heracles in Attica, on his apotheosis and marriage, on his association with the young, and most of all on the two most striking rituals in the play: the voluntary self-sacrifice of the daughter of Heracles, and the conversion of Eurystheus from an enemy of Athens to a hero whose dead body will protect the city-state. The text is James Diggle's (Oxford Classical Texts 1984).
Reader Profile
4.1/5 · 52 readers · 42 pages · ≈ 47 min · Challenging
How long does it take to read Children of Heracles?
About ≈ 47 min — 42 pages, assuming roughly 250 words per page at 225 words per minute.
How many pages is Children of Heracles?
42 pages in its most-read edition.
What genre is Children of Heracles?
It sits on the Mythology, Drama shelves.
Is Children of Heracles in the public domain?
Yes — it is free to read and share.
Who wrote Children of Heracles?
Euripides.
Where can I read Children of Heracles online for free?
It is in the public domain — read it free on Open Library