The Capture of Miletus

The "Capture of Miletus" was a tragedy written by the Athenian poet Phrynichus around 494 BCE. This play depicted the Persian capture of Miletus, a former ally of Athens. The tragedy was so emotionally impactful that it caused great distress among the Athenian audience, leading to Phrynichus being fined. This play is notable as one of the few 5th-century BCE Greek tragedies with a historical subject matter. Phrynichus was an important tragic poet, an older contemporary of Aeschylus, and is credited with introducing female masks into tragedy.12