**Euripides (Athens, c. 450 BC)**
+## Background
+
+- Set in 415 BC, after Trojan War
+- Inspired by Homer's Iliad - mythical poem by Homer (Greek poet). Final weeks of war.
+- 416 BC - Greeks invade Melos (Peloponnesian War). Melians neutral (relationship to Sparta)
+- Athenians believed they were most civilised society
+
+### Trojan War
+
+- Eris, goddess of discord, gives golden apple to Hera, Athena, Aphrodite
+- Zeus sends Eris to decide who has apple
+- Paris/Alexander steals Helen from her husband Menelaus with help of Aphrodite
+- King Menelaus gathers army
+- Helen of Sparta becomes Helen of Troy
+- war lasted 10 years
+- Achilles & Hector killed
+- gods take sides & end war
+- Trojan horse - invented by Athena, executed by Odysseus & Athenians
+- Trojans had banquet at end of war when Trojan horse arrived
+
+### Euripides
+
+- Athenian, 450 BC
+- Golden Age - political/artistic/intellectual reneissance
+- progressive representation of female characters, graphic/uncouth plays
+- critical of society
+- Athens attacked by Sparta >5 times
+
+
+
+
## Characters
-**Poseidon** - god of the sea
-**Athene** - goddess of wisdom
+**Poseidon** - (careless) god of the sea, built Troy w/ Apollo
+**Apollo** - god, affair w/ Cassandra in exchange for persistent foresight
+**Athene** - goddess of wisdom - supported Greeks in Battle of Troy
**Hecuba** - widow of Priam, King of Troy. Old & "grey-haired".
+**Priam** - husband of Hecuba. 50 kids.
+**Alexander** - aka Paris. Son of Priam & Hecuba. Kidnaps Helen from Sparta (most beautiful)
**Cassandra** - their daughter, a prophetess. Manic.
**Andromache** - their daughter-in-law, widow of Hector
**Talthybius** - Greek officer - assigns women
**Menelaus** - King of Sparta
-**Helen** - his wife, Trojan, imprisoned
+**Helen** - his wife, Trojan, imprisoned
**Chorus** of Trojan women, captured
**Astryanax** - small boy, Hector and Andromache's son
-**Greek soldiers**
+**Greek soldiers**
+
+
- *trojan* - native of Troy
- Epeios (Greek) built Trojan horse to defeat King Priam of Troy (city)