The Oresteia (Magill Book Reviews)
At a glance:
- Author: Aeschylus
- First Published: 458
- Type of Work: Greek Drama
- Genres: Drama, Tragedy
- Subjects: Mythology or myths, Slavery or slaves, Religion, Kings, queens, or royalty, Gods or goddesses, Fratricide, parricide, or filicide, Tragedy, Rites or ceremonies, Greek or Roman times, Priests, Greece or Greek people, Princes or princesses
- Locales: Greece, Athens, ancient, Delphi, ancient, Argos, ancient
In the first play, AGAMEMNON, the protagonist of that name returns home from the Trojan War with his beautiful prize of war, the Trojan princess Cassandra. Agamemnon’s wife Clytemnestra pretends to welcome him home gladly, but when he steps from his bath, she folds him in a large robe and stabs him to death. The helpless Cassandra, a prophetess of Apollo, foresees the fate of her master and her own murder as well, but no one understands her ravings. Clytemnestra flaunts her deeds before the chorus of elders as revenge for Agamemnon’s sacrifice of their daughter Iphegeneia to gain...
[The entire page is 508 words long]

