The lecture will discuss the only surviving ancient tragic trilogy, Aeschylus’ Oresteia, as an example of the genre. It will discuss formal features of Attic tragedy and the genre’s historical development with an eye to understanding Aeschylus’ astonishing stagecraft and ambitious dramatic vision.

Joshua Billings is Professor of Classics at Princeton University. His research focuses on tragedy, intellectual history, and classical reception.  

This lecture is part of the Carol J. Worrell Series on Literature.