Oresteia
Ancient revenge cycle
The Oresteia is a trilogy of Greek tragedies by Aeschylus, first performed in 458 BCE.
The three plays—Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides—trace the cursed House of Atreus through murder and revenge to eventual resolution.
It is the only complete trilogy surviving from ancient Greek theater, and its themes of justice, vengeance, and the transition from blood feud to civic law remain central to Western drama.
Invoked harm through words
- TantalusMythic king eternally denied
- IphigeniaMycenaean princess nearly sacrificed
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- TroyAncient Anatolian city
Agamemnon · Clytemnestra · Electra · Apollo · Athena · Furies · Erinyes · Delphi
Father of tragedy
- AgamemnonMycenaean king, war leader
- ClytemnestraGreek queen, husband-slayer
- ElectraMythic Greek princess
- CassandraIgnored prophet of doom
Inherited cycle of retribution
- matricideMaternal murder
- ClytemnestraGreek queen, husband-slayer
- murderDeliberate unlawful killing
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
cycle of violence · vendetta · Furies · Erinyes · pursuit · torment · guilt · bloodguilt
Judicial examination of claims
- AthenaGreek wisdom deity
- juryLegal decision-making body
- verdictOfficial court decision
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
transformation · reconciliation · divine judgment · Apollo · advocacy · deliberation · legal precedent · absolution
curse
Invoked harm through words
- TantalusMythic king eternally denied
- IphigeniaMycenaean princess nearly sacrificed
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
Troy · Agamemnon · Clytemnestra · Electra · Apollo · Athena · Furies · Erinyes · Delphi · oracle
Aeschylus
Father of tragedy
- AgamemnonMycenaean king, war leader
- ClytemnestraGreek queen, husband-slayer
- ElectraMythic Greek princess
Cassandra · chorus · dramatic arc · performance · stagecraft
blood feud
Inherited cycle of retribution
- matricideMaternal murder
- ClytemnestraGreek queen, husband-slayer
- murderDeliberate unlawful killing
retribution · cycle of violence · vendetta · Furies · Erinyes · pursuit · torment · guilt · bloodguilt · revenge killing
trial
Judicial examination of claims
acquittal · transformation · reconciliation · divine judgment · Apollo · advocacy · deliberation · legal precedent · absolution · mercy
OresteiaOld Comedy
Ancient Greek satirical theater
The Birds · farce · burlesque · Greek comedy · theatrical comedy