The Choephori: translation and commentary

Abstract

The Choephori (458 b.C.) is the second play of the Oresteia, Aeschylus' (525-455 b.C.) single trilogy of tragedies preserved. The text here consists in the translation of the first 228 verses of the play, translated directly from the original in anccient Greek, with the support of several reconstructions of the classical text and the aid of many other translations and commentaries. The verses are followed by 265 notes and commentary in order to clarify or justify the text, presenting explanations for the translation, disserting on the history or the context of the play, pointing out some Greek word or some poetic phenomenon present in the original. This translation stands out for its faithfulness to the classical meaning of the text, attempting to preserve sintatic relations and figures of speech from the original poetry in comprehensive and poetic manner.