The Oresteian Trilogy: Agamemnon; The Choephori; The Eumenides

by Aeschylus, E. D. A. Morshead (Translator)

Overview

The Oresteia is a trilogy of Greek tragedies written by Aeschylus concerning the end of the curse on the House of Atreus and the pacification of the Erinyes. The name derives from the character Orestes, who sets out to avenge his father's murder.
The only extant example of an ancient Greek theater trilogy, the Oresteia won first prize at the Dionysia festival in 458 BC. When originally performed, it was accompanied by Proteus, a satyr play that would have followed the trilogy. Proteus has not survived, however. In all likelihood the term "Oresteia" originally referred to all four plays; today it generally designates only the surviving trilogy.
Many consider the Oresteia to be Aeschylus' finest work. Principal themes of the trilogy include the contrast between revenge and justice, as well as the transition from personal vendetta to organized litigation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781539746379
Publisher:	CreateSpace Publishing
Publication date:	10/26/2016
Pages:	152
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.33(d)
Lexile:	NP (what's this?)

About the Author

Aeschylus was born of noble family near Athens in 525 BC. He took part in the Persian Wars, and his epitaph represents him as fighting at Marathon. He wrote more than seventy plays, of which only seven have survived.

Philip Vellacott has translated Aeschylus and Euripides for the Penguin Classics. He taughts classics at Dulwich College for twenty-four years and lectured on Greek Drama in the USA. He was also a Visiting Lecturer in the University of California. He died in 1997.

Table of Contents

The Oreteian TrilogyIntroduction

Agamemnon

The Choephori or The Libation-Bearers

The Eumenides

Notes to 'Agamemnon'

Notes to 'The Choephori'

Notes to 'The Eumenides'

Appendix
Select Bibliography
The Pronunciation of Greek Names
Genealogical Table of the House of Atreus