Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Euripides

EURIPIDES (-rip′i-dēz) , a celebrated Athenian tragedian; born in Salamis, in 480 B. C. (or 485). He studied under Prodicus and Anaxagoras, and is said to have begun to write tragedies at the age of 18, although his first published play, the "Peliades," appeared only in 455 B. C. He was not successful in gaining the first prize till the year 441 B. C., and he continued to exhibit till 408 B. C., when he exhibited the "Orestes." The violence of unscrupulous enemies, who accused him of impiety and unbelief in the gods, drove Euripides to take refuge at the court of Archelaus, King of Macedonia, where he was held in the highest honor. Euripides is a master of tragic situations and pathos, and shows much knowledge of human nature and skill in grouping characters, but his works lack the artistic completeness and the sublime earnestness that characterize Æschylus and Sophocles. Euripides is said to have composed 75, or according to another authority 92 tragedies. Of these 18 (or 19, including the "Rhesus") are extant, viz.: "Alcestis," "Medea," "Hippolytus," "Hecuba," "Heracleidæ," "Suppliants," "Ion," Hercules Furens," "Andromache," "Troades," "Electra," "Helena," "Iphigenia Among the Tauri," "Orestes," "Phœnissæ," "Bacchæ," "Iphigenia at Aulis," and "Cyclops."