''Archelaus'' (, ''Archelaos'') is a
drama
Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...
written and performed in
Macedonia by
Euripides honouring
Archelaus I of Macedon on a par with king
Caranus. There is no doubt that Euripides transformed ''Caranus'' to ''Archelaus'' (meaning "leader of the people") in the play, in an attempt to please Archelaus I of Macedon.
In the play, Archelaus son of
Temenus was exiled from
Argos by his brothers and went to
Thrace
Thrace (, ; ; ; ) is a geographical and historical region in Southeast Europe roughly corresponding to the province of Thrace in the Roman Empire. Bounded by the Balkan Mountains to the north, the Aegean Sea to the south, and the Black Se ...
, to king
Cisseus who happened to be at war with neighbouring people and promised Archelaus his kingdom and daughter if he could protect him against the enemies. Archelaus did it and went to ask the king for his promised reward. The king however broke his promise and decided to kill Archelaus by treachery. He therefore gave orders to prepare a pitfall to trap him. But a slave of the king told Archelaus about the plot and the hero asked for a secret interview with the king: when alone he threw him inside the pitfall. He then fled to Macedonia, led by a goat, according to some command of
Apollo
Apollo is one of the Twelve Olympians, Olympian deities in Ancient Greek religion, ancient Greek and Ancient Roman religion, Roman religion and Greek mythology, Greek and Roman mythology. Apollo has been recognized as a god of archery, mu ...
, and founded the city of
Aigai after the goat.
From the main play only fragments have been saved. The works ''
Alcmene'', ''
Temenus'', ''Temenidai'' and ''Archelaus'' were part of the Macedonian
tetralogy of Euripides.
Notes
References
*"Euripides'
Kresphontes and Archelaos" by Annette Harder, ''EurÃpides''. .
*"The Macedonian tetralogy of Euripides" by Richard Johnson Walker.
Plays by Euripides
Lost plays
Mythology of Macedonia (ancient kingdom)
Archelaus of Macedon
Plays based on classical mythology
{{AncientGreece-stub