The National Theatre of Greece returns to New York's City Center for a limited six-performance run of Aeschylus' The Persians, the oldest surviving play in history and the only extant Greek tragedy that is non-mythical in theme and based on historic fact.

The Persians (Persae) is the oldest surviving play in history and the only surviving Greek tragedy that deals with a non-mythical theme. The play celebrates the final defeat of the armies of Xerxes in the sea-battle of Salamis (480 B.C.). After it was performed in 472 B.C. in Dionysia, Aeschylus (who himself fought in that battle) was awarded the first prize.

The play takes place in Susa, the capital of Persia, where Greeks for more than eleven years had fought against their enemies. It opens with Atossa, the Queen Mother and the Chorus representing the Persian nobles, the King’s advisors. They are awaiting the news of King Xerxes’ campaign against the Greeks. The Chorus is anxious and troubled by bad premonitions. Atossa describes her frightening dream about the campaign and decides to propitiate the gods with immolations. The scenes that follow offer the narrative of the defeat and ruin of the Persian forces.

The play is not only a boastful picture of the Greek triumph over Persians; It is solemn warning addressed to both victors and vanquished. It is a vision of divine justice humbling the pride of nations, a moral lesson on tyranny that touches the heart and conscience of each oppressor, whether Greek or barbarian.

The production stars Lydia Koniordou, one of Greece's most accomplished stage actresses.

Performed in Greek with English supertitles.