The Oresteia

The Oresteia was a trilogy of stories written by Aeschylus written in 458 for an April Greek festival. It was a mix of a civic event as well as a festival to honour the gods. The Oresteia explores the extent to what is in the laps of the Gods and what responsibility should an individual take.

The story is taken from Homer's [[Homer's Oddessey|Oddessey. In the first play character::Agamemnon comes home to Argosand is killed by Klytemnesta. Earlier Agamemnon has sacrificed his daughter ??? and it is believed has not been atoned for. He also has brought home a daughter of Priam, Kassandra (She is cursed by Apollo as one who is never believed).

Klytemnestra is having an affair with Aegisthus

In the second play (The Libation Bearers) Orestes. He is caught between a rock and a hard place. He has to avenge his father (as directed by Apollo) but this also means killing his mother. Orestes meets with Electra where they discuss how they have been usurped by their mother.

Orestes kills Aegisthus and then turns on his mother and there is much pleading from Klytemnestra for her life saying that she nursed him. But we see she has been lying as the nurse maid has come on the stage earlier and makes it clear that she brought up Orestes. He has a moment of doubt but Pylades who comes from close to the Delphic Oracle says you must. The play explores the dilemma of whether he should or should not kill his mother - he giving reasons why he is should and her giving reasons why she should not. He puts the sword to he neck and she bares her breast.