Ευμενίδες

"Ευμενίδες" by Aeschylus is a classic Greek tragedy written in the 5th century BC. The play serves as the concluding installment of the Oresteia trilogy, focusing on the story of Orestes, who is pursued by the vengeful Furies after avenging his father's death by killing his mother, Clytemnestra. Thematically, it explores justice, vengeance, and the transition from a cycle of retribution to a more ordered legal system under the guidance of Athena. The opening of "Ευμενίδες" introduces Orestes as he seeks refuge at the temple of Apollo in Delphi, being hunted by the Furies for his crime of matricide. As he pleads for protection from the god Apollo, the Furies awaken and express their fury at Orestes for killing Clytemnestra. The tension escalates as the responsibility for justice is ultimately challenged, with Athena deciding to mediate a trial in Athens to determine Orestes' fate. Here, themes of divine law versus human action are set into motion, foreshadowing the dramatic judicial proceedings to unfold as the drama progresses. (This is an automatically generated summary.)