I finished reading The Suppliant Women by Euripides (first performed in 423 BC), translated by Philip Vellacott. The events of this play occur shortly after Polyneices’ attempt to wrest the throne from his brother Eteocles, as told by Aeschylus in Seven Against Thebes.

Besides being another fantastically written play by Euripides, The Suppliant Women explores perennially relevant themes, including the role of law and how it’s applied, the relationship between state and citizen, duty to loved ones, and the inability to change past actions. Of specific note is Theseus’ cogent defense of democratic government, as opposed to the autocratic rule of Creon over Thebes.

This play was so good to read. I imagine it was a powerful experience when audiences first saw it almost 2,500 years ago, and it still speaks directly to the reader of the present.

“Yield us the bodies to inter; We wish to give them pious rites. If you will not – In plain terms, I will come with arms and bury them.”