CLASSIC 36B Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Jury Trial, Erinyes, Aegeus
Document Summary
Cycle of blood requiring more blood finally brought to an end through the institution of jury trial (council of the areopagus) Recognition of criminal law is inherent in the institution of trial by jury. Critical to understanding of play is the fact that athena has orestes tried by a jury of athenian citizens, not by gods. Self-perpetuating cycle of re-enge yields to law of the polis(law of city-states) Erinyes become good ones, but athena has to threaten them to get on her side. The pythia, the prophetess of apollo, opens the play with an account of the history of the sanctuary of apollo at delphi. She goes into the temple, only to return in horror at the sight waiting for her. She sees is the erynies of clytemnestra. Orestes would tell anyone that he is a suppliant(makng a humble plea to court) Apollo comes onto the stage and tells orestes that he will not abandon him.
