Orestes

Euripides (c.480–c.406 BC), translated by Theodoridis, G., (contributor-contact-email)

Orestes, a tragedy by Euripides, explores the tribulations of Orestes after he murders his mother, Clytemnestra, in retribution for his father, Agamemnon’s , death. The play is set in the aftermath of this matricide, where Orestes grapples with madness and persecution by the Furies.

In the play, Orestes and his sister Electra find themselves at the mercy of the Argive people, who seek to punish Orestes for his crime. Their hope for salvation rests with their uncle Menelaus, who returns from the Trojan War. However, Menelaus abandons them in preference of political influence. In a desperate bid for survival, Orestes and Electra, with their companion Pylades, hatch a plan to kill Helen, Menelaus’ wife, and take her daughter Hermione hostage. The plot, however, takes an unexpected turn when Helen disappears, supposedly taken by the gods. The play culminates with the deus ex machina appearance of Apollo, who resolves the situation. He orders Orestes to stand trial in Athens, where he is acquitted, and arranges the marriages of Orestes to Hermione and Electra to Pylades, restoring order from chaos.

Euripides’ Orestes delves into themes of justice, revenge, and the whims of the gods, reflecting on the complexities of human nature and divine intervention. It stands out in its critique of societal norms and the political landscape of ancient Greece.

Author Details

Euripides, a preeminent Greek tragedian born around 480 BC on the island of Salamis, was a transformative figure in the evolution of ancient Greek drama. He was the son of Mnesarchus, a merchant, and Cleito. Initially destined to be an athlete, as per an oracle’s prophecy, Euripides’ career was redirected towards the arts, encompassing studies in philosophy under Anaxagoras and Prodicus, and painting.

Among the trio of great tragedians, including also Aeschylus and Sophocles, Euripides is noted for his innovative approach to drama. He is credited with infusing classical Greek theatre with a modern sensibility, portraying mythical heroes as ordinary individuals in extraordinary situations. This novel perspective heralded significant developments in drama, influencing later forms including comedy and romance.

Ancient sources attribute as many as 92 plays to him, but only around 18 or 19 have survived in a complete form, with the authorship of “Rhesus” being subject to debate. His works are distinguished by their deep exploration of characters’ inner lives - in stark contrast to the style of his contemporaries.

Euripides’ own life intersected significantly with contemporary intellectual movements, granting Socrates’ and himself prominent positions in Athenian culture - which led to both being criticized by comic poets including Aristophanes.

In his later years, there are conflicting accounts about his voluntary exile and death in Macedonia around 406 BC, with both the assumption his death there, and the nature of his relationship with King Archelaus, being questioned by modern scholars.

His dramatic contributions are multifaceted, marked by a shift from traditional heroic narratives to more nuanced, often controversial, explorations of societal issues and human psychology, in plays characterized by their rhetorical prowess and innovative use of language, reflecting contemporary Athenian society and its complexities.

Despite winning only a few dramatic competitions in his lifetime, Euripides’ impact on the genre of tragedy, and his influence on subsequent generations of playwrights and dramatists, is undeniable. He remains a pivotal figure in the evolution of Western drama.

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Theodoridis, G.,

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