Aeschylus in his piece The Suppliants of 470 BC writes a tragic narrative regarding fifty maidens of Egyptian King Danaus who escaped from Africa to Greece. Their father accompanied them in the escape as they run to avoid marrying their fifty cousins, which would have been committing incest in the eyes of God. In the ancient Greek city-states asylum was granted to only those who took refuge in a temple or sacred place and called upon the gods for protection. The Suppliants therefore, had to be officially accepted as asylum seekers and be protected under the divine safety net by the city’s officials (Fraenkel, 1974).
The Suppliants in today’s world reflects the refugee crisis and how countries respond to asylum seekers when in grave distress caused by either conflict, war or economic instability. It determines something fundamental about our humanity and above all responsibility cannot be shirked even if the political and the economic stakes are high. This play provides a historical depth view that reflects today’s refugee crisis, framing the basic dramatic situation of its asylum seekers in moral, democratic and religious term (Fraenkel, 1974). The Suppliants as an ancient tragedy shares commonalities with today’s refugee situation. …show more content…
The plot of the tragedy depicts the reception of a ship and its symbolic value as a national imagery. The ship relates to today’s vessels used by the asylum seekers to cross the sea. Similarity with the current conditions can be seen in the case that asylum seekers are coming through the Aegean Sea. Greece today serves as an entry point to asylum seekers entering Europe. In the ancient days, it was also an entry point for those fleeing oppression from the other side of the Mediterranean. The point of origin is the Middle East same as the ancient days while the host country named Argos-Greece by then is now Greece and Europe. Further to this, both cases focus on desperate people seeking for protection. Greece, which is the most southeasterly corner of the EU, operates like a gateway to a humanitarian disaster in both the imaginary and reality. In recent times, it has witnessed the arrival of vessels full of asylum seekers who have risked their lives on the short and hazardous journey for “safe havens”. It is obvious that today’s asylum seekers are in the same position as their ancestors (Fraenkel, 1974). Just like the ancient tragedy, asylum seekers entering Europe today are threatening to take their lives through hunger strike and suicide if they are not allowed to cross the boarders to countries of central Europe. This is just like The Suppliers who threatened the king of Argos using the same tactics. In the play, the tradition of hospitality and religious obligation accorded to strangers seems common and human. These aspects play a role in the ancient Greek culture and that is why the Suppliant maidens are praying to the gods for a shelter. However, the situation is different today as Greece’s hospitality is limited. There is a general lack of shelters, coordination and staff darkens the image of ancient “Greek hospitality” (Fraenkel, 1974). The king of Argos, Pelasgus, was confronted with a dilemma where if he grants sanctuary to the 50 women fleeing with their father from Egypt to avoid forced marriage with their cousins, the King faces the inevitable war with the spurned men. On the other hand if he does not
The Suppliants in today’s world reflects the refugee crisis and how countries respond to asylum seekers when in grave distress caused by either conflict, war or economic instability. It determines something fundamental about our humanity and above all responsibility cannot be shirked even if the political and the economic stakes are high. This play provides a historical depth view that reflects today’s refugee crisis, framing the basic dramatic situation of its asylum seekers in moral, democratic and religious term (Fraenkel, 1974). The Suppliants as an ancient tragedy shares commonalities with today’s refugee situation. …show more content…
The plot of the tragedy depicts the reception of a ship and its symbolic value as a national imagery. The ship relates to today’s vessels used by the asylum seekers to cross the sea. Similarity with the current conditions can be seen in the case that asylum seekers are coming through the Aegean Sea. Greece today serves as an entry point to asylum seekers entering Europe. In the ancient days, it was also an entry point for those fleeing oppression from the other side of the Mediterranean. The point of origin is the Middle East same as the ancient days while the host country named Argos-Greece by then is now Greece and Europe. Further to this, both cases focus on desperate people seeking for protection. Greece, which is the most southeasterly corner of the EU, operates like a gateway to a humanitarian disaster in both the imaginary and reality. In recent times, it has witnessed the arrival of vessels full of asylum seekers who have risked their lives on the short and hazardous journey for “safe havens”. It is obvious that today’s asylum seekers are in the same position as their ancestors (Fraenkel, 1974). Just like the ancient tragedy, asylum seekers entering Europe today are threatening to take their lives through hunger strike and suicide if they are not allowed to cross the boarders to countries of central Europe. This is just like The Suppliers who threatened the king of Argos using the same tactics. In the play, the tradition of hospitality and religious obligation accorded to strangers seems common and human. These aspects play a role in the ancient Greek culture and that is why the Suppliant maidens are praying to the gods for a shelter. However, the situation is different today as Greece’s hospitality is limited. There is a general lack of shelters, coordination and staff darkens the image of ancient “Greek hospitality” (Fraenkel, 1974). The king of Argos, Pelasgus, was confronted with a dilemma where if he grants sanctuary to the 50 women fleeing with their father from Egypt to avoid forced marriage with their cousins, the King faces the inevitable war with the spurned men. On the other hand if he does not