Aeschylus: Persians (Companions to Greek and Roman Tragedy")

Aeschylus' "Persians" is the earliest extant Greek tragedy and sole surviving historical tragedy. Produced in 472 BC, the play tells the story of the defeat of the Persian king Xerxes in his attempt to expand his empire by conquering Greece and his return in rags to Persia to face the condemnation of his elders.