Aes·chy·lus (ěs'kə-ləs, ē'skə-) Greek tragic dramatist whose plays were the first to include two actors in addition to the chorus. Only 7 of his 90 dramas survive, including the Oresteia trilogy (458). Aes'chy·le'an (-lē'ən) adj.
An ancient Greek poet, often considered the founder of tragedy. He was the first of the three great Greek authors of tragedies, preceding Sophocles and Euripides.