The Eumenides

Acropolis and Environs

Areopagus

Areopagus

The Eumenides

• Dramatis personæ– Orestes

– Clytemnestra (ghost)

– The Pythia

– Apollo

– Athena

– Chorus 1: Eumenides

– Chorus 2: Athenian women

• Setting– 1: The temple of Apollo

at Delphi– 2: The acropolis at

Athens

• The Plot– Athena and an Athenian

court exonerate Orestes and give the Eumenides a new divine role.

The Eumenides: Plot

– I. At the temple of Apollo in Delphi (1-234)• A. The Pythia’s speech (1-63)

– 1. Before entering temple (1-33)

» a. History of prophecy at Delphi / Prayer to Apollo and Zeus (1-19)

» b. Prayer to Athena, Dionysus, springs, Poseidon, Zeus again (20-31)

» c. She enters the temple (32-33)

– 2. After entering temple (34-63)

» a. She describes her horror (34-38)

» b. She retells what she saw (39-59)

» c. She calls upon Apollo (61-64)

Red-Figure Krater 1

Red-Figure Krater 2

Red-Figure Krater 3

The Eumenides: Plot (cont.)

• B. Apollo’s speech (64-93)– 1. He will defend Orestes (64-66)

– 2. He has lulled the Eumenides to sleep (66-68)

– 3. He describes the Eumenides (67-73)

– 4. He tells Orestes to seek sanctuary at Athena’s temple in Athens (74-80)

– 5. Foretells the trial and Orestes’ acquittal (81-83)

– 6. Declares that he did indeed order Orestes to murder Clytemnestra (84)

– 7. Interruption: Orestes begs Apollo for further aid (85-87)

– 8. Apollo asks Hermes to accompany Orestes to Athens; invokes Zeus Xenios (88-93)

The Eumenides: Plot (cont.)

• C. Clytemnestra wakes the chorus (94-139)– 1. She is dishonored for her murder among the dead, but

Orestes has gone free (94-105)– 2. She reminds the Eumenides of her sacrifices and their

duty (106-116)– 3. She awakens them (117-139)

• D. 1st Stasimon: the Eumenides sing of their shame and disgust at Apollo (140-177)

– 1. They rouse themselves (140-142)– 2. Their shame at falling asleep... (143-148)– 3. …turns to anger at Apollo, a young god who has unjustly

used force against senior citizens (149-154)

The Eumenides: Plot (cont.)

– 4. They are driven on by the foul murder of Clytemnestra (155-161)

– 5. Zeus’ generation rules by force, not by right (162-167)

– 6. Apollo has sullied himself and his shrine (169-172)

– 7. They vow to fight on (175-178)

• E. Apollo appears and argues with the Eumenides (179-234)

– 1. Apollo orders them away, threatening and abusing them (179-197)

– 2. Stichomythia: Eumenides blame Apollo for his actions and defend their own (198-212)

The Eumenides: Plot (cont.)

– 3. Apollo accuses them of ignoring Zeus, Hera, and Aphrodite’s rights with their one-sided view (213-224)

– 4. The Eumenides refuse to quit (225-231)– 5. Apollo will continue to help Orestes, who sought his

help (232-234)

– II. Outside the temple of Athena in Athens• A. Orestes argues with the Eumenides (235-298)

– 1. He prays to Athena; she does not appear yet (235-244)– 2. The Eumenides search for Orestes (245-257)– 3. The spy him and sing of his punishment (258-275)– 4. Orestes claims he has been purified by Apollo (276-286)

The Eumenides: Plot (cont.)

– 5. He summons Athena; again she does not appear (287-298)

• B. 2nd Stasimon (299-396)– 1. Orestes must pay (299-306)

– 2. The Eumenides pursue only the guilty (307-320)

– 3. Their divine role is ancient (321-359)

– 4. They perform a necessary service none of the other gods will undertake (360-367)

– 5. They bring down the arrogant (368-385)

– 6. They are steadfast and right, though terrible (385-396)