Greek drama began with festivals for the gods, mainly Dionysus, the god of wine.
During Aeschylus' lifetime, dramatic competitions became part of the city's Dionysia in the spring.
The festival began with an opening procession, then a competition of boys singing dithyrambs, and finally two dramatic competitions.
The first competition was for three playwrights each presenting three tragic plays, followed by a shorter comedy.
A second competition of five comedic playwrights followed, and winners of both competitions were chosen by a group of judges.

Aeschylus took part in many of these competitions in his lifetime.
Only six tragedies have survived intact: The Persians, Seven against Thebes, The Suppliants, and the trilogy known as The Oresteia, consisting of the three tragedies Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers and The Eumenides.
There is also the play Prometheus Bound, but this was probably written by someone else.
All of the surviving plays won first prize at the City Dionysia.
One book, the Alexandrian Life of Aeschylus, said that he won the first prize at the City Dionysia 13 times.
Sophocles' won 18 times out of his 120 plays, and Euripides only had five wins out of about 90 plays.

The Persians (Persai) (472 BC)
Seven Against Thebes (Hepta epi Thebas) (467 BC)
The Suppliants (Hiketides) (463 BC?)

Oresteia a series of three plays (458 BC)
Agamemnon
The Libation Bearers (Choephoroi)
The Eumenides
Greek drama began with festivals for the gods, mainly Dionysus, the god of wine. During Aeschylus' lifetime, dramatic competitions became part of the city's Dionysia in the spring. The festival began with an opening procession, then a competition of boys singing dithyrambs, and finally two dramatic competitions. The first competition was for three playwrights each presenting three tragic plays, followed by a shorter comedy. A second competition of five comedic playwrights followed, and winners of both competitions were chosen by a group of judges.
Aeschylus took part in many of these competitions in his lifetime. Only six tragedies have survived intact: The Persians, Seven against Thebes, The Suppliants, and the trilogy known as The Oresteia, consisting of the three tragedies Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers and The Eumenides. There is also the play Prometheus Bound, but this was probably written by someone else. All of the surviving plays won first prize at the City Dionysia. One book, the Alexandrian Life of Aeschylus, said that he won the first prize at the City Dionysia 13 times. Sophocles' won 18 times out of his 120 plays, and Euripides only had five wins out of about 90 plays.
The Persians (Persai) (472 BC)
Seven Against Thebes (Hepta epi Thebas) (467 BC)
The Suppliants (Hiketides) (463 BC?)
Oresteia a series of three plays (458 BC)
Agamemnon
The Libation Bearers (Choephoroi)
The Eumenides
Aeschylus