Astiages

Anon. (1598)

Historical Records

St. John’s College ms. Acc.v.E.1, college Computus Hebdomalis (16-22 January):

fol. 57 v

A tragedy of Astiages/

Acted post 30^a <...>os in

aedibus Praesidentis

fol. 58

Eadem tragoedia

Astiages publice acta

in Aula/

(Quoted by Elliott-Nelson, REED Oxford I.245)

Theatrical Provenance

Produced at St. John’s College, Oxford, in 1597-8. Probably written in Latin.

Probable Genre(s)

Latin (?) Tragedy (Harbage)

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

Information on Astyages from Encyclopedia Britannica:

The last king of the Median empire (reigned 585–550 bc). According to Herodotus, the Achaemenian Cyrus the Great was Astyages’ grandson through his daughter Mandane, but this relationship is probably legendary. According to Babylonian inscriptions, Cyrus, king of Anshan (in southwestern Iran), began war against Astyages in 553 bc; in 550 the Median troops rebelled, and Astyages was taken prisoner. Then Cyrus occupied and plundered Ecbatana, the Median capital.

References to the Play

Information needed.

Critical Commentary

Information needed.

For What It's Worth

Information needed.

Works Cited

Encyclopedia Britannica
REED Oxford I.

Site created and maintained by Dana F. Sutton, University of California, Irvine; updated David McInnis 07 March 2010.