The Suppliants

The Suppliants, also known as The Suppliant Maidens, was probably first performed sometime after 470 BCE. Originally, it was thought to be the earliest play by Aeschylus due to the relatively anachronistic function of the chorus as the protagonist of the drama. However, recent evidence places it after The Persians as Aeschylus's second extant play.

In it, the Danaides form the chorus and serve as the protagonists. They flee a forced marriage to their Egyptian cousins. When the Danaides reach Argos, they entreat King Pelasgus to protect them. He refuses pending the decision of the Argive people, who decide in the favor of the Danaides. Danaus rejoices the outcome, and the Danaides praise the Greek gods. Almost immediately, a herald of the Egyptians comes to attempt to force the Danaides to return to their cousins for marriage. Pelasgus arrives, threatens the herald, and urges the Danaides to remain within the walls of Argos. The play ends with the Danaides retreating into the Argive walls, protected.