Alcestis - Euripides

from Bacchae · host Euripides

Alcestis by Euripides explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the human condition through the poignant story of a devoted wife who offers her life for her husband's. This timeless tragedy delves into the depths of marital devotion and the struggle between personal desires and societal expectations. The emotional weight of Alcestis's sacrifice resonates today, reminding listeners of the complexities of love and the lengths one may go to for those they cherish. As the characters grapple with fate and the inevitability of death, the play invites reflection on what it means to truly love and the sacrifices that come with it, making it a profound experience for contemporary audiences.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jul 31, 2026

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Alcestis - Euripides

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Bacchae, The by Euripides (484 BCE - 406 BCE) LibriVox The tragedy is based on the mythological story of King Pentheus of Thebes and his mother Agavë, and their punishment by the god Dionysus (who is Pentheus' cousin) for refusing to worship him. (Summary by Wikipedia)Cast:Dionysus: mbCadmus: Bruce PiriePentheus: Algy PugAgave: Roseanne SchmidtTeiresias: Matthew ReeceSoldier: John FrickerMessenger: Dale BurgessChorus/Narrator: Elizabeth KlettAudio edited by: Elizabeth Klett The Bacchae by Euripides Euripides The Bacchae by EuripidesIn Euripides' "Bacchae," the god Dionysus gets back to Thebes to state his heavenly nature and rebuff the people who deny him, especially Lord Pentheus. Camouflaged as a human, Dionysus prompts the ladies of Thebes, including Pentheus' mom Agave, to leave their homes and revel in wild, happy love. Pentheus, not set in stone to keep everything under control, endeavors to keep an eye on the Bacchae yet is at last caught. In a heartbreaking turn, Agave, made distraught by Dionysus, erroneously murders her child, trusting him to be a wild creature. The play investigates subjects of conviction, restraint, and the results of denying one's real essence, finishing in an overwhelming sign of the force of the heavenly and the mayhem of human inclination.. (Summary by Dream Audiobooks) Bacchanals Euripides Dive into the world of Euripides Bacchae, a gripping exploration of myth and madness. Set against the backdrop of Thebes, the story unfolds with King Pentheus and his mother Agave facing the wrath of Dionysus, the god who seeks to prove his divine lineage and bring the wild rites of his worship to the city. This enthralling tale culminates in a shocking climax where Pentheus is brutally torn apart by the women of Thebes, with Agave tragically presenting his severed head to her father, Cadmus. Unlike many Greek tragedies, Bacchae features a dynamic chorus that plays a vital role in the narrative, and Dionysus himself takes center stage as the driving force of the drama. Presented in a dramatic poem format by Henry Hart Milman, a former Professor of Poetry at Oxford, this translation brings a fresh perspective to a timeless classic. (Summary by Alan Mapstone) Iphigenia in Aulis (Way translation) Euripides Iphigenia in Aulis (Ancient Greek Ἰφιγένεια ἐν Αὐλίδι) stands as the final surviving masterpiece of the renowned playwright Euripides. Composed between 408 and 406 BC, just before his death, this poignant play premiered the following year as part of a trilogy that included The Bacchae and Alcmaeon in Corinth, where it triumphed at the Athenian city Dionysia. The narrative unfolds around Agamemnon, the leader of the Greek forces in the Trojan War, who faces the heart-wrenching choice to sacrifice his daughter, Iphigenia, in a desperate bid to appease the goddess Artemis and secure his armys passage to battle. This harrowing dilemma ignites a clash between Agamemnon and Achilles, foreshadowing their later conflict in the Iliad. Euripides masterfully employs tragic irony to deepen the emotional impact of his characters experiences. This compelling verse translation is brought to life by Arthur Sanders Way, a distinguished classical scholar and headmaster of Wesley College in Melbourne, Au

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This episode is 1 hour and 16 minutes long.

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This episode was published on July 31, 2026.

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