Why did Pericles pay for Aeschylusâs Persian trilogy in 472 BCE?
In 472 BCE, Pericles served as the choragus (or producer) for the playwright Aeschylus during the Great Dionysia festival.12
In ancient Greek theatre, wealthy citizens were appointed as choragi on a rotating basis to finance the additional production costs of plays, such as training the chorus, providing costumes, and paying for extras. Because these theatrical festivals were highly competitive civic ceremonies, a generous choragus provided the playwright with a significant advantage in the contest. If the production won a prize, the honor was officially awarded to the choragus rather than the playwright.2
The specific trilogy Pericles sponsored included the play Persians, which is notable for dramatizing the recent Battle of Salamis rather than traditional mythological subjects. By funding this production, Pericles participated in a vital civic duty that supported Athenian cultural life and public morale following the victory over Persia.3412