Download Lecture 20: Orestes, Revenge, the Eumenides

Lecture 16: Orestes, Revenge,
the Eumenides
Background: The Libation Bearers
• Tragedy by Aeschylus
• Was performed after the Agamemnon in what
is now call the Oresteia trilogy
• Orestes returns, compelled by Apollo to
avenge death of father
• Plots with Electra to kill Clytemnestra and
Aegisthus
• The Erinyes (Furies) pursue Orestes
F. Graf, Greek Mythology 165
“Orestes dilemma is even graver that
that of Agamemnon at Aulis. Again the
gods have thrust mortals into a terrible
predicament. Apollo makes Orestes
decide between two evils: he must either
avenge his father by committing
matricide or be punished horribly by the
Delphic god.”
Orestes and Electra
school of Pasiteles; c. 50 - 25 BCE; inspired by a Greek work of c. 470 BCE.
Museo archeologico nazionale di Napoli
Orestes, Electra and Pylades at the tomb of Agamemnon
ca. 350 BCE. Musée du Louvre
Orestes killing Aigisthos.
c. 500 BCE, Musée du Louvre
F. Graf, Greek Mythology 162
“In the unending cycle of retaliation that is the
mainspring of the Oresteia, each retaliatory act is
carried out in the name of justice. …In Choephori
[Libation Bearers], the next play of the trilogy,
Orestes and Electra insist that the murder of their
mother was a just act. Yet the alleged justice of that
act does not keep the Erinyes from hounding
Orestes.”
Deaths in the House of Pelops
• Death of Clytemnestra << Death of
Agamemnon
– Death of Agamemnon retaliation for:
• Death of his daughter
• Crimes of his father (Atreus killing Thyestes’ sons)
– Death of Thyestes’ Sons retaliation for adultery
» Adultery retaliation for Atreus’ grab for power
The Eumenides (The Kindly Ones)
• Orestes being driven mad by Furies, flees to
Athens
• Trial of Orestes – who is judge, jury, the
defense, the prosecution?
• Judgment and resolution of talio
Orestes Pursued by the Furies
Bouguereau, William, 1825-1905
Orestes at Delphi.
Pythia fleeing in horror (left), Apollo, Orestes clutching the
omphalos stone, Artemis.
Those Kindly Furies…
•Eumenides, “The kindly ones,” a euphemism for Erinyes,
“The Furies.”
•Referred to simply as “august goddesses” in Athenian
documents – Hesitation to name them?
•Conflict between the old and young gods over the
distribution of honors (the Furies regard Orestes as their
rightful prey), primacy of mother vs. father
•Cf. gods vs. titans, Theogony
•Voting and persuasion, Athens and her citizens
Apollo, Parentage
“The mother is not a parent, only the nurse
Of the seed which the true parent, the father,
Commits to her as to a stranger to
Keep it with God’s help safe from harm. And I
Have proof of this. There can be a father
Without a mother.”
Orestes’ Oath – Reference to treaty
between Athens and Argos
Before I go
I give my word to you and to your people
For all posterity that no commander
Shall lead an Argive army in war against
This city.
Rage of the Erinyes –Old vs. New
Gods
Oho, you junior gods, since you have trod under foot
The laws of old and robbed us of our powers,
We shall afflict this country
With damp contagion, bleak and barren, withering up the soil,
Mildew on bud and birth abortive. Venomous pestilence
Shall sweep your cornlands with infectious death.
…and then acceptance
We agree to dwell with you
Here in Athens, which by grace of Zeus
Stands a fortress for the gods,
Jeweled crown of Hellas. So
With you now we join in prayer
That smiling suns and fruitful soils unite to yield
Lifelong joy, fortune fair,
Light and darkness reconciled.
Etiological myths in the Eumenides
•Athens and Argos (Orestes swears
an eternal alliance between Athens
and Argos)
•Foundation of Areopagos (“Rock of
Ares”) court in Athens
•Cult of Eumenides (“The Kindly
Ones”) in Athens