Euripides Biography

Euripides, Poet
Occup.Poet
FromGreece
Born480 BC
Salamis, Greece
Died406 BC
Pella, Macedonia
Early Life and Background
Euripides was born around 480 BCE, perhaps on the island of Salamis or in the region of Athens, Greece. This period was marked by upheaval, as Greece was participated in the Greco-Persian Wars. His family was most likely upscale and well-connected, permitting him the chance to receive a comprehensive education, which was instrumental in shaping his future career as a playwright.

Though specifics of his early life are sporadic, historical records recommend that Euripides may have studied philosophy, rhetoric, and other disciplines under notable figures, setting a strong intellectual structure for his operate in literature. His lifetime accompanied the height of classical Athenian civilization, a culturally rich and intellectually lively era that undoubtedly affected his writing.

Social and Intellectual Circles
Euripides was modern with several popular figures and intellectuals of Ancient Greece. Socrates, the popular theorist, was among his contemporaries. It is suggested that Euripides shared connections with the Sophists, a group of traveling instructors and theorists who were understood for their ability to argue from any position, affecting his disposition towards checking out human feelings and ethical problems in his plays.

He also completed as a dramatist alongside other great playwrights such as Sophocles and Aeschylus, who were not only his creative rivals but sometimes his collaborators. The dynamic interactions within this creative scene offered a lively context for improvement and competitors, promoting the advancement of classical Greek catastrophe.

Career and Works
Euripides established himself as one of the canonical 3 fantastic tragedians of classical Athens, together with Aeschylus and Sophocles. He presented a more sensible method to the portrayal of characters, diving deep into psychology and social matters.

According to historic records, Euripides is credited with composing roughly 92 plays during his life time, though only 18 to 19 of them have actually survived in complete form, partly due to the vagaries of history and the damage of texts in time. A few of his most long-lasting and influential works consist of "Medea", "The Bacchae", "Hippolytus", "The Trojan Women" and "Electra.".

His work frequently centers around the plights and passions of women, exploring styles of power, betrayal, love, and vengeance. This fresh narrative design contributed especially to the advancement of drama, affecting not only the course of Greek theater however likewise the broader storytelling traditions throughout cultures and centuries.

Thematic Innovations
Euripides was understood for his deep empathy towards ordinary individuals and a typically critical position towards conventional social and religious standards. He especially concentrated on the inner lives and feelings of his characters, providing both gods and mortals with striking complexity and ambiguity.

He often explored themes such as the recklessness of war, the capricious nature of fate, and the struggles against tyrannical power. This candid portrayal of human defects and societal problems sometimes caused debate, earning him both awards and criticism.

Later Life and Legacy
Towards completion of his life, around 408 BCE, Euripides left Athens, potentially disillusioned with the political climate and the Peloponnesian War, and relocated to Macedonia. There, he was invited by King Archelaus, who was known for his patronage of the arts. Euripides continued to write throughout his time in Macedonia and passed away around 406 BCE.

His tradition persisted long after his death, as his works continued to be performed and appreciated throughout the Hellenistic duration and beyond. Euripides' influence is evident in the works of later playwrights and literary figures, and his focus on mental depth and social commentary resonates throughout the history of Western literature.

Our collection contains 51 quotes who is written / told by Euripides, under the main topics: Happiness - Wisdom - Forgiveness.

Related authors: Sophocles (Author), Anaxagoras (Philosopher), Socrates (Philosopher), Aeschylus (Playwright), Edward Bond (Playwright), Menander (Poet), Fiona Shaw (Actress), Philo (Philosopher), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete)

Frequently Asked Questions
  • Q: Where did Euripides live
    A: Euripides lived in Greece, primarily in Athens, though he also spent time in Macedonia later in his life.
  • Q: When was Euripides born
    A: Euripides was born around 480 BCE.
  • Q: Euripides full name
    A: Euripides' full name is simply Euripides; ancient Greek individuals typically did not have last names as we do today.
  • Q: How did Euripides die
    A: The exact circumstances of Euripides' death are not well-documented, but it is believed that he died in Macedonia, possibly due to natural causes around 406 BCE.
  • Q: Euripides pronunciation
    A: Euripides is pronounced as yoo-RIP-i-deez.
  • Q: Euripides famous works
    A: Euripides is known for several famous works such as 'Medea', 'The Bacchae', and 'The Trojan Women'.
  • Q: Euripides tragedies list
    A: Some of Euripides' most famous tragedies include 'Medea', 'The Bacchae', 'Hippolytus', 'Electra', 'The Trojan Women', and 'Ion'.
Euripides Famous Works:

51 Famous quotes by Euripides

Small: Question everything. Learn something. Answer nothing
"Question everything. Learn something. Answer nothing"
Small: Youth is the best time to be rich, and the best time to be poor
"Youth is the best time to be rich, and the best time to be poor"
Small: He is not a lover who does not love forever
"He is not a lover who does not love forever"
Small: The man is happiest who lives from day to day and asks no more, garnering the simple goodness of life
"The man is happiest who lives from day to day and asks no more, garnering the simple goodness of life"
Small: Along with success comes a reputation for wisdom
"Along with success comes a reputation for wisdom"
Small: No one is happy all his life long
"No one is happy all his life long"
Small: Danger gleams like sunshine to a brave mans eyes
"Danger gleams like sunshine to a brave man's eyes"
Small: Its not beauty but fine qualities, my girl, that keep a husband
"It's not beauty but fine qualities, my girl, that keep a husband"
Small: Wealth stays with us a little moment if at all: only our characters are steadfast, not our gold
"Wealth stays with us a little moment if at all: only our characters are steadfast, not our gold"
Small: Events will take their course, it is no good of being angry at them he is happiest who wisely turns the
"Events will take their course, it is no good of being angry at them; he is happiest who wisely turns them to the best account"
Small: He was a wise man who originated the idea of God
"He was a wise man who originated the idea of God"
Small: There is just one life for each of us: our own
"There is just one life for each of us: our own"
Small: Better a serpent than a stepmother!
"Better a serpent than a stepmother!"
Small: When a mans stomach is full it makes no difference whether he is rich or poor
"When a man's stomach is full it makes no difference whether he is rich or poor"
Small: Ten soldiers wisely led will beat a hundred without a head
"Ten soldiers wisely led will beat a hundred without a head"
Small: The good and the wise lead quiet lives
"The good and the wise lead quiet lives"
Small: God hates violence. He has ordained that all men fairly possess their property, not seize it
"God hates violence. He has ordained that all men fairly possess their property, not seize it"
Small: Chance fights ever on the side of the prudent
"Chance fights ever on the side of the prudent"
Small: Twas but my tongue, twas not my soul that swore
"'Twas but my tongue, 'twas not my soul that swore"
Small: Forgive, son men are men they needs must err
"Forgive, son; men are men; they needs must err"
Small: Joint undertakings stand a better chance when they benefit both sides
"Joint undertakings stand a better chance when they benefit both sides"
Small: Do not plan for ventures before finishing whats at hand
"Do not plan for ventures before finishing what's at hand"
Small: The bold are helpless without cleverness
"The bold are helpless without cleverness"
Small: Some wisdom you must learn from one whos wise
"Some wisdom you must learn from one who's wise"
Small: Love is all we have, the only way that each can help the other
"Love is all we have, the only way that each can help the other"
Small: But learn that to die is a debt we must all pay
"But learn that to die is a debt we must all pay"
Small: Silence is true wisdoms best reply
"Silence is true wisdom's best reply"
Small: Life has no blessing like a prudent friend
"Life has no blessing like a prudent friend"
Small: Cleverness is not wisdom
"Cleverness is not wisdom"
Small: Happiness is brief. It will not stay. God batters at its sails
"Happiness is brief. It will not stay. God batters at its sails"
Small: Whoso neglects learning in his youth, loses the past and is dead for the future
"Whoso neglects learning in his youth, loses the past and is dead for the future"
Small: Slight not whats near through aiming at whats far
"Slight not what's near through aiming at what's far"
Small: Ignorance of ones misfortunes is clear gain
"Ignorance of one's misfortunes is clear gain"
Small: I would prefer as friend a good man ignorant than one more clever who is evil too
"I would prefer as friend a good man ignorant than one more clever who is evil too"
Small: Silver and gold are not the only coin virtue too passes current all over the world
"Silver and gold are not the only coin; virtue too passes current all over the world"
Small: In misfortune, which friend remains a friend?
"In misfortune, which friend remains a friend?"
Small: Impudence is the worst of all human diseases
"Impudence is the worst of all human diseases"
Small: The best of seers is he who guesses well
"The best of seers is he who guesses well"
Small: The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and
"The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man"
Small: One does nothing who tries to console a despondent person with word. A friend is one who aids with deed
"One does nothing who tries to console a despondent person with word. A friend is one who aids with deeds at a critical time when deeds are called for"
Small: Luckier than ones neighbor, but still not happy
"Luckier than one's neighbor, but still not happy"
Small: Among mortals second thoughts are wisest
"Among mortals second thoughts are wisest"
Small: No one can confidently say that he will still be living tomorrow
"No one can confidently say that he will still be living tomorrow"
Small: Human misery must somewhere have a stop there is no wind that always blows a storm
"Human misery must somewhere have a stop; there is no wind that always blows a storm"
Small: Friends show their love in times of trouble
"Friends show their love in times of trouble"
Small: Fortune truly helps those who are of good judgment
"Fortune truly helps those who are of good judgment"
Small: Down on your knees, and thank heaven, fasting, for a good mans love
"Down on your knees, and thank heaven, fasting, for a good man's love"
Small: Do not consider painful what is good for you
"Do not consider painful what is good for you"
Small: Authority is never without hate
"Authority is never without hate"
Small: Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish
"Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish"
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