470 BC

                                  THE PERSIANS

                                  by Aeschylus

                          translated by Robert Potter

                 CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY

    ATOSSA, widow of Darius and mother of XERXES

    MESSENGER

    GHOST OF DARIUS

    XERXES

    CHORUS OF PERSIAN ELDERS, who compose the Persian Council of State

    (SCENE:-Before the Council-Hall of the Persian Kings at Susa. The tomb of Darius the Great is visible. The time is 480 B.C., shortly after the battle of Salamis. The play opens with the CHORUS OF PERSIAN ELDERS singing its first choral lyric.)