Eumenides

Aeschylus (c.525–c.456 BC), translated by Theodoridis, G., (contributor-contact-email)

The Oresteia, a trilogy by Aeschylus from the 5th century BCE, comprises three Greek tragedies focusing on the House of Atreus. The sequence begins with Agamemnon’s murder by Clytemnestra, continues through Orestes’ killing of Clytemnestra, and concludes with Orestes’ trial, lifting the family’s curse and appeasing the Furies.

The Eumenides, the concluding part of the trilogy, depicts the evolution of Athenian justice and the city’s legal systems. Orestes, pursued by the Furies, goddesses of retribution, for murdering his mother, seeks refuge in Athens. With Apollo’s aid, he momentarily evades the Furies whilst they are sleeping, but they are soon awakened by Clytemnestra’s ghost who demands justice.

In Athens, Athena organises a trial for Orestes at the Areopagus, overseen by herself and a jury of twelve Athenians. This trial, featuring Orestes, Apollo, and the Furies, symbolises the establishment of judicial proceedings. The outcome is a deadlock, resolved by Athena’s casting vote, sparing Orestes’ life. Initially displeased, the Furies are persuaded by Athena to embrace a role of guardianship rather than vengeance. Athena renames them the Eumenides or the Gracious Ones, signifying their transformed purpose. She decrees that henceforth, legal disputes should be resolved through courtroom trials, marking a shift from personal vendettas to structured legal processes.

Author Details

The ancient Greek playwright Aeschylus (c. 525–c. 456 BC) is credited as being the originator of the Greek tragic drama.

Born in Eleusis, in western Attica near Athens, Aeschylus was raised in a prosperous family, with his father, Euphorion, being a member of the ancient noble class of Attica, the Eupatridae.

Aeschylus initially worked in a vineyard, but experienced an epiphany when, according to the 2nd-century AD geographer Pausanias, the god Dionysus appeared to him in a dream - instructing him to pursue the nascent art of the theatrical tragedy. Aeschylus took this divine guidance to heart and began writing his first tragedy, which was performed in 499 BC when he was 26 years old. His talent quickly gained recognition, and he achieved his first prize at the City Dionysia contest in 484 BC.

Aeschylus’ life was interwoven with significant historical events. In 490 BC, he fought in the Battle of Marathon, defending Athens against the invading Persian army. His military service continued during the Persian Wars, with notable participation in the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC, and the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC.

Aeschylus’ dramatic innovations included more expansive casts, allowing for complex interactions and conflicts. He is also credited with introducing trilogies, where three interconnected plays formed a cohesive narrative. His famous trinity, “The Oresteia,” consisting of “Agamemnon,” “The Libation Bearers,” and “The Eumenides,” explored themes of justice, vengeance, and the role of the gods in human affairs.

Despite his military and literary achievements, Aeschylus faced controversy in his later years when, according to Aristotle, he was accused of impiety for revealing the secrets of the Eleusinian Mysteries in one of his plays. However, he was acquitted, thanks in part to his distinguished record of military service.

Aeschylus died in Gela, Sicily, in 456 or 455 BC. His theatrical legacy was one of structural and thematic innovations that paved the way for future playwrights. Although only a few of his plays have survived intact, they remain as enduring classics of ancient Greek tragic theatre.

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Theodoridis, G.,

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