[f1]
The play of Phrynichus, which celebrated the defeat of Xerxes, was called
_Phœnissæ_, from the Phœnician virgins who composed the chorus. How far
Æschylus may have borrowed from this work is now impossible to know.
Nothing certainly can be gained by pressing curiously the word
παραπεποιῆσθαι in the mouth of an old grammarian.
[f2]
Chœrilus was a Samian, contemporary of Herodotus, but younger. His poem,
entitled περσικά, included the expedition of Darius as well as that of
Xerxes.
[f3]
By the praiseworthy exertions of Mr. Bohn, the English reader is now
supplied with translations of this, and other Classical writers, at a
very cheap rate.
[f4]
Vol. V. p. 191. THIRLWALL had defended the statement of Æschylus.
[f5]
Herodotus VII. 1-4.
[f6]
Trilogie, p. 470; Ariadne, p. 81.
[f7]
These plays were PHINEUS, the PERSIANS, GLAUCUS, and PROMETHEUS.
The last was a satiric piece, having no connection with the Prometheus
Bound, or the trilogy to which it belonged.
[f8]
See LINWOOD--_voce_ βαΰζω.
[f9]
"The people of Susa are also called Cissians."--STRABO, p. 728.
[f10]
See p. 172, Note.
[f11]
"They who dwell in the marshes are the most warlike of the
Egyptians."--Thucyd. I. 110. ABRESCH.
[f12]
"Tmolus, a hill overhanging Sardes, from which the famous golden-flooded
Pactolus flows."--STRABO, p. 625. "Called sacred from Bacchus
worshipped there."--Eurip. Bacch. 65. PAL.
[f13]
The Hellespont; so called from Helle, the daughter of Athamas, a
character famous in the Argonautic legend.
[f14]
"As a dragon in a hollow fiercely waiteth for a man,
Eating venomed herbs, and darkly nursing anger in his breast,
Glaring with fierce looks of terror, as he winds him in his den."
ILIAD.
[f15]
"They who are called by the Greeks SYRIANS, are called ASSYRIANS by
the Barbarians."--HERODOT. VII. 63.
[f16]
The bridge of boats built by Xerxes. The original ἀμφίζευκτον αλιον
πρῶνα ἀμφοτέρας κοινὸν ἄιας seems intelligible no other way. So
BLOM., PAL., and BUCK., and LINW.--Compare Note 34 to the
Eumenides.
[f17]
See Note 63 to the Choephoræ.
[f18]
Attica.
[f19]
θυμόμαντις.--See Note 67 to Agamemnon.
[f20]
The mines of Laurium, near the Sunian promontory. On their importance to
the Athenians during this great struggle with Persia, see GROTE, V. p.
71.
[f21]
ἐπι σκηπτουχίᾳ ταχθεὶς. So the σκηπτουχοι βασιλεῖς of Homer.
[f22]
Part of the shore of Salamis, called τροπάια ἄκρα.--SCHOL.
[f23]
σκληρᾶς μέτοικος γῆς: inest amara ironia.--BLOM.
[f24]
αλάστωρ.
[f25]
ἐπέφλεγεν.
[f26]
The captain of this ship was Ameinias, brother of Æschylus.--See GROTE,
V. 178.
[f27]
A bold expression, but used also by Euripides.--νυκτὸς ὄμμα
λυγάιας--(Iphig. Taur., 110). To Polytheists such terms were the most
natural things in language.
[f28]
"As soon as the Persian fleet was put to flight, Aristides arrived with
some Grecian hoplites at the island of Psyttaleia, overpowered the enemy,
and put them to death to a man."--GROTE.
[f29]
"Having caused the land force to be drawn up along the shore opposite to
Salamis, Xerxes had erected for himself a lofty seat or throne upon one
of the projecting declivities of Mount Aegaleos, near the Heracleion,
immediately overhanging the sea."--GROTE.
[f30]
θεὸς indefinitely; a common way of talking in Homer.
[f31]
Facilis descensus Averni, etc.--VIRGIL, Æneid VI.
[f32]
ὕβρις--See Note 61 to Agamemnon, and Note 41 Eumenides.
[f33]
Salamis in Cyprus, from which the Grecian Salamis was a colony.
[f34]
See p. 172, and compare p. 271.
[f35]
See Note 63 to the Choephoræ.
[f36]
See Ezra ix. 3.
[End of Footnotes]