In ancient tragedies, life itself is dissected. Man, as a composition of contradictions, is shown to suffer, to rejoice, to fall in love, to hate, to curse, to regret, to stand by, to observe, to obey, to oppose, to punish, to be punished, to do wrong, to be wronged, to wish, to invoke, to swear, to seek revenge, to philosophize.

While dealing with the texts, we thought to highlight some of their most beautiful "moments", that is, the words that "speak" beyond the myth of each tragedy and touch us today as if not a day has passed since they were written. Even through the selected excerpts alone, the reader has the opportunity to approach the way of thinking not only of the tragic poets but also generally of the ancient Greeks in their everyday life, to get to know their culture and form a personal opinion about their worldview; in any case, they will be puzzled, amazed by the clarity of thought, but also moved by the truth of the content.

(from the introductory note of the authors)

This edition presents thematic material, translated and anthologized by Ina Anagnostopoulou and Lia Bousouni-Gkesoura, from the thirty-three surviving tragedies of the three great tragedians. Specifically, it includes mainly opinions but also wishes, curses, pleas, invocations, as well as oaths and greetings.