Euripidess

Euripides was an ancient Greek playwright, one of the three great tragedians of classical Athens, alongside Aeschylus and Sophocles. He is known for his innovative and often unconventional approach to tragedy, frequently challenging traditional myths and introducing more complex, human characters. His plays are characterized by their psychological depth, intellectual exploration of themes, and a tendency to question the established order.

Born on the island of Salamis around 480 BCE, Euripides lived during a period of significant political and cultural change in Athens, including the Peloponnesian War. He wrote approximately 92 plays, though only 18 have survived in complete form. Among his most famous surviving works are *Medea*, *Hippolytus*, *The Bacchae*, and *The Trojan Women*.

Euripides' plays often featured strong female characters who defied societal expectations, and he was known for his sympathetic portrayal of marginalized figures. His use of prologues to set the scene, divine intervention (deus ex machina) to resolve plot complexities, and lyrical choral odes were distinctive features of his dramatic style. While not always as popular as Sophocles in his own time, Euripides' influence on later drama and literature has been profound, particularly his exploration of human motivation and the darker aspects of existence. He died in Macedonia around 406 BCE.