Rhesus is one of the plays preserved as a selection of the works of Euripides, whose authorship will be discussed below. It is modeled on Book Ten of the Iliad, the so-called Doloneia; indeed this drama is the only surviving dramatization of a Homeric story, except for Euripides’ satyr-play Cyclops.
The section of the Iliad known as the Doloneia is our earliest treatment of the legend of Rhesus, king of Thrace and owner of the best horses in the world after those of Achilles. Because the Trojans have advanced up to the Greek defensive moat, the Greeks have to take measures. They organize a reconnaissance mission by Diomedes and Odysseus that leads to the death of Dolon, …
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Citation: Francisetti Brolin, Sonia. "Rhesus". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 29 January 2018 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=38822, accessed 24 November 2024.]
