The OresteiaAeschylus' Oresteia, the only ancient tragic trilogy to survive, is one of the great foundational texts of Western culture. It begins with Agamemnon, which describes Agamemnon's return from the Trojan War and his murder at the hands of his wife Clytemnestra, continues with her murder by their son Orestes in Libation Bearers, and concludes with Orestes' acquittal at a court founded by Athena in Eumenides. The trilogy thus traces the evolution of justice in human society from blood vengeance to the rule of law, Aeschylus' contribution to a Greek legend steeped in murder, adultery, human sacrifice, cannibalism, and endless intrigue. This new translation is faithful to the strangeness of the original Greek and to its enduring human truth, expressed in language remarkable for poetic intensity, rich metaphorical texture, and a verbal density that modulates at times into powerful simplicity. The translation's precise but complicated rhythms honor the music of the Greek, bringing into unforgettable English the Aeschylean vision of a world fraught with spiritual and political tensions. |
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Common terms and phrases
Aegisthus Aeschylus Agamem Agamemnon Agamemnon's death altar anapests Antistrophe Apollo Areopagus Argive Argos Athena Athenian Atreidae avenge blessings blood bring CASSANDRA choral CHORUS LEADER Chorus's Clytemnestra crime Cronus curse dark daughter dead deed Delphi destruction dikę door dream earth ELECTRA Erinyes Erinys Eumenides evil exits fate father fear final goddess gods Greek hand hear heart Helen HERALD Hermes honor house of Atreus Iphigenia jurors justice killed king land Libation Bearers marriage Menelaus mother murder myth oath offer oracle Oresteia Orestes palace persuasion Phocis play pray prayer Pylades refer retribution rite robes role ruin sacrifice savior scene shrine sing slaughter sleep song sorrow speak speech spirit stage stanza stasimon story Strophe suffer suppliant tell third libation Thyestes tomb tragedy translation trial trilogy Trojan Troy turn vengeance vote woman women words Zeus Zeus's