Classical Studies 2301A/B Chapter : The Oresteia

• School: Western University
• Department: Classical Studies
• Course: Classical Studies 2301A/B
• Professor: Randall Pogorzelski

Document Summary

Text #1: the oresteia y trilogy of greek tragedies written by aeschylus y first performed in 458 bce in athens y centered around the house of atreus y themes and symbols in oresteia: themes. Entanglement y taming of wild things y subjugation of the powerful: troy y. sound of terror in the night: symbols. snakes (especially vipers) and the poison of snakes y viper who turns against his own family, whose mating is murder, symbol of hate-in-love y symbol of entanglement; spider web also appears. Agamemnon y first of the three tragedies y domestic tragedy y clytemnestra estranged from her husband (agamemnon) for murdering y their daughter, iphigenia. For paris taking helen (wife of agamemnon s brother, king of argos), both. worshiping kings like gods was viewed as feminine and womanly y calling priam and paris feminine. greeks viewed themselves as masculine and democratic: ultimately agamemnon walking on the robes was his undoing,