[1]: 68 In any case, it was not published or performed until debuted 12 January 1578 at Zamoyski's wedding to Krystyna Radziwiłł at Ujazdów Castle in Warsaw, before the royal court and King Stephen Báthory.

[4][7][8] The plot of the play focuses on the arrival of the titular Greek envoys at Troy, in order to prevent the outbreak of hostilities—an event mentioned in Homer's Iliad.

The tragedy depicted is that of characters who understand what is at stake but who cannot stop the wheels of events put in motion, ushering the impending doom (the Trojan War).

[1]: 69 The works main theme are the responsibilities of statesmanship, critique of weak rulers and failings of power, where the voice of "wise and reasonable" is drowned by that of passionate but selfish and poorly educated youth.

[3][6] Edmund Kotarski [pl] commented on its universal values such as "the truth about the superiority of the common good and dependence of the country and of its future on its citizens’ stance".