Aeschylus (c.525-455 B.C) was an ancient Greek playwright and soldier. Scholars' knowledge of the tragedy genre begins with Aeschylus' work, and because of this, he is dubbed the "father of tragedy." Aeschylus claimed his inspiration to become a writer stemmed from a dream he had in which the god Dionysus encouraged him to write a play. While it is estimated that he wrote just under one hundred plays, only seven of Aeschylus' work was able to be recovered.

Taking place years after King Agamemnon's murder at the hands of his wife, Clytemnestra, his son Orestes is sent by an Oracle to avenge his father. The Libation Bearers precedes the play, Agamemnon, as the tragic struggle for the Agos throne continues. Second in Aeschylus's tragic Oresteian trilogy, The Libation Bearers is a story of family reunions and revenge.