Tereus (play)

Tereus is the name of several ancient Greek tragedies, now mostly lost or fragmentary. The most famous was written by Sophocles. Other versions are known to have existed by other playwrights, including Philocles and possibly Euripides.

Sophocles' Tereus

Sophocles' Tereus is based on the myth of Tereus, King of Thrace, Procne, daughter of the King of Athens, and Philomela, Procne's sister. The myth recounts Tereus's brutal rape of Philomela, his silencing her by cutting out her tongue, and the subsequent revenge enacted by Procne and Philomela, who kill Tereus's son Itys and serve him to Tereus for dinner.

Synopsis (Based on Fragments and Accounts):

While details are sparse due to the fragmentary nature of the surviving evidence, the play likely began with Tereus arriving in Athens to escort Procne back to Thrace as his wife. The play likely featured a prologue spoken by a character, perhaps a nurse or servant, outlining the background of the situation. After some time, Procne sends for her sister Philomela. Tereus travels to Athens to bring Philomela to Thrace. During the journey, Tereus rapes Philomela and cuts out her tongue to prevent her from revealing the crime. He imprisons her, but she manages to weave a tapestry depicting the events and sends it to Procne. Procne, understanding her sister's plight, rescues Philomela and together they plot their revenge. They kill Itys, Tereus's son by Procne, and serve him to Tereus at a feast. The play likely concluded with Tereus discovering what he has eaten and a chase scene, followed by the intervention of the gods, who transform all three into birds: Tereus into a hoopoe, Procne into a nightingale, and Philomela into a swallow.

Lost and Fragmentary Nature:

Very little of Sophocles' Tereus survives beyond scattered fragments and quotations in later sources. These fragments offer glimpses into the play's language and themes but are insufficient to reconstruct a complete picture of the work. Accounts from other ancient writers, such as Ovid (in his Metamorphoses), provide context for the story but are not a reliable substitute for the play itself.

Themes:

Based on the myth and available fragments, the themes of Tereus likely included:

• Revenge: The central driving force of the play is the desire for revenge against Tereus for his horrific crimes.
• Justice: The play explores the question of how justice can be achieved in the face of unspeakable acts.
• Violence and Brutality: The myth itself is inherently violent, and the play likely depicted the brutality of Tereus's actions and the vengeful response.
• Silence and Voice: The silencing of Philomela and her subsequent finding of a way to express her truth through art underscores the importance of voice and the struggle against oppression.
• The Power of Women: The play highlights the agency and power of Procne and Philomela in taking revenge on Tereus.

Influence:

The myth of Tereus, Procne, and Philomela has been a source of inspiration for artists and writers throughout history, including Shakespeare (in Titus Andronicus) and T.S. Eliot (in The Waste Land). The fragmentary nature of Sophocles' Tereus makes it difficult to assess its precise influence, but the play undoubtedly contributed to the enduring popularity and cultural significance of the myth.