Euripides

Euripides was the last of three great Greek tragedy playwrights. In his plays, Euripides used the same mythological heroes as his predecessors, Aeshylus and Sophocles, but showed them as ordinary people, often using his plays to criticize the political, social, and religious ideas of his time (Conacher, 93). Little is known of Euripides' personal life. Though he grew up in Athens, inscriptions found on Euripides suggest he was born on the island of Salamis on the day of the "Great Battle", or the second Persian War (Melchinger, 10). .

Euripides came from a middle class family. His father, Mnesarchides, was a tradesman, or huckster, while his mother employed herself in the market. As a boy, Euripides was a "wine pourer"- "traditionally an honor of a gentleman's son, though some believed this did not depict him properly" (Melchinger, 11). His family was by no means wealthy, however they did provide an adequate upbringing, providing Euripides with the proper nourishment for his brilliant mind.

Euripides received the customary education of his country and time. In addition to reading and writing, Euripides also went through physical training and learned about music, Greek literature, and Greek poetry, in which "Homer was the basis for study" Murray, 26). Higher education came from the study of Aeschylus' tragedies, which could have been seen on stage as well as read. Euripides also had a passion for the Arts, specifically, painting. Despite his interests, Euripides' father tried to make an athlete out of him, after "misinterpreting an oracle" (Melchinger, 12). Euripides' desire for higher knowledge must have overcome the wishes of his father.

Psychology and Philosophy were two influential aspects for Euripides. His master in these subjects was Anaxagoras of Clazomenae. Anaxagoras marked the "transition of natural philosophy to one of mental and moral basis, of which Socrates was the first" (Lucas, 57). Anaxagoras