The Oresteia (Masterplots, Revised Second Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Aeschylus
- First Published: 458
- Type of Work: Drama
- Type of Plot: Tragedy
- Time of Work: After the fall of Troy
- Setting: Argos, Delphi, and Athens
- Principal Characters: Watchman, Clytemnestra, Herald, Agamemnon, Cassandra, Aegisthus, Chorus, Orestes, Pylades, Electra, Chorus, Servant, Clytemnestra, Cilissa, Aegisthus, Servant, Pythian Priestess, Apollo, Ghost of Clytemnestra, Orestes, Athene, Chorus, Second Chorus, Jurors
- 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
The Story:
Agamemnon. Clytemnestra’s Watchman spied a beacon signaling victory at Troy. Hoping that Agamemnon would right the wrongs in Argos, the Watchman left to inform Clytemnestra.
The Chorus lamented the unjustified ten-year war. It was fought for Helen, Clytemnestra’s sluttish sister, wife of Agamemnon’s brother, Menalaus, and paramour of Trojan Paris. Although Paris violated a guest’s obligations in stealing Helen, she was unworthy of the anguish. The brothers’ attack wedded Greeks and Trojans in spilled blood, first sacrifice being...
[The entire page is 2131 words long]
Navigate
- The Oresteia (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
- The Oresteia (Magill Book Reviews)
- The Oresteia (Masterplots, Revised Second Edition)
- The Oresteia (Cyclopedia of Literary Places)
- The Oresteia (Masterplots, Definitive Revised Edition)
See Also:
Aeschylus (Cyclopedia of World Authors)Aeschylus (Drama)Aeschylus (Encyclopedia of the Ancient World)Aeschylus (Dictionary of World Biography: The Ancient World)
- Add The Oresteia to your favorites