4 Ernest Heinrich Klotsche 



ends by handling the supernatural elements as unconvincing or 

 even ridiculous. 



It is true, Euripides often represents the Gods in an unfa- 

 vorable light, and has no real reverence for them ; but how far 

 the poet speaks in his own name or lets the characters in his 

 drama speak is sometimes hard to decide ; on the other hand, as 

 for example in the " Bacchse," and, to a certain extent, in the 

 " Supplices," he most closely adheres to the method of using the 

 supernatural adopted by his predecessors. His handling of the 

 supernatural reveals a spirit of open-mindedness and vacilla- 

 tion which makes it difficult to define correctly his religious views. 

 But he deserves a hearing not only as the poetical interpreter of 

 the age of the sophists, but especially as one who bears witness 

 to the religious ideas of his time. 



Our search will be conducted in a limited sphere. It does not 

 treat of the theology of Euripides in general, but of the super- 

 natural in his tragedies as illustrated in prayers, curses, oaths, 

 oracles, prophecies, dreams, and visions. 



Before proceeding to the collection and study of the various 

 examples it may be said that our material will be collected from 

 the eighteen extant plays and remaining fragments of Euripides' 

 works, excluding the " Rhesus," which has come down to us 

 under his name, but is now almost universally recognized as 

 spurious. 



I. The Alcestis 



The earliest of the extant plays of Euripides, the " Alcestis," 

 which was brought out in 438 B.C. as the fourth play of a 

 tetralogy, contributes for our discussion only a few examples of 

 the poet's handling of the supernatural element. 



The character of Alcestis, the heroine of the piece, her heroic 

 self-sacrifice, her conjugal love and motherly care are depicted 

 with overpowering pathos in a fervent prayer offered before the 

 altar of Hestia, the Goddess of the family-hearth and the home : 



Ale. 163-69: 



ikcnroLv , eyw yap epxofxai Kara x^o^os, 

 iravvuTaTov ere irpoairlTVOva^ alTTiao/xai,, 

 TtKV opcjjavevaaL rafid, Kal tCo fxev (plK-qv 



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