She decides, however, to create the first ever murder trial in order to determine Orestes’ guilt, recruiting ten honorable citizens to form a jury.
Both sides explain their presence to her, and agree to abide by her ruling.Īthena wishes to serve justice, but fears the wrath of the Furies. Soon after, Athena herself enters, and commands both the Furies and Orestes to tell her who they are and why they’ve come to Athens-she explains that she must protect her city at all costs. The scene shifts to Athens, where Orestes prays to Athena just as the Furies find him once again, threatening and tormenting him when they do. The dialogue ends with the Furies vowing to pursue Orestes, even as Apollo promises to protect him. The Furies, meanwhile, believe that Apollo is trying to steal their power.
Apollo finds the Furies contemptible and horrific, relics of a time when vengeance was more important than justice. At this moment, Apollo emerges from the temple, and a verbal fight begins. They wake up and are horrified to find their prey has escaped, cursing the Olympian gods for helping a guilty man defy their power. In the meantime, however, he offers his half-brother, the god Hermes, to guide Orestes to Athens.Īfter Orestes has exited, the ghost of Clytemnestra appears, scornfully cursing the Furies for their laziness. Apollo tells Orestes that he must continue to Athens, where Athena, the goddess of wisdom, will try his case. He reveals that Orestes only killed Clytemnestra at his divine command, and explains to the audience that he has lulled the Furies to sleep, before expressing his hatred of the merciless goddesses. Though Pythia is terrified by this sight, and flees immediately, the god Apollo himself takes her place. Following him is a relentless band of Furies, demonic goddesses whose only aim in life is to punish human wrongdoers.
It is Orestes, the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, who killed his mother in order to avenge her murder of his father. Her ritual is interrupted, however, by a bloodstained refugee who has come to her temple to be cleansed. The play opens with Pythia, the priestess of Apollo, preparing to perform her morning prayer.
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