Classics Chapter 21: Homecomings from Troy Flashcards
nostos / nostoi
homecomings
great homecoming stories and authors
1) Odyssey - Homer
2) trilogy: (Agamemnon’s) Orestia- Aeschylus
Orestes
Agamemnon’s son
Orestia plays
1) Agamemnon
2. Libation Bearers
3) Eumenides
What happens in Agamemnon ?
- Cassandra comes back with Agamemnon
- Clyt tests to see if sorry with red carpet -realizes excessive does anyway
- in bath, she nets and stabs him
- ends with Clyt displaying bodies and saying there’s Justice
Who does Clytemnestra have an affair with ?
Aegisthus
Why does Clytemnestra want to kill her husband?
Clytemnestra and mstress plan to kill for revenge for killing their daughter
Cloephori
Libation Bearers - 2nd play of Orestia
= those who pay respects at Ag’s tomb
Who lead the Choephori?
Electra - Ag and Clyt’s daughter
resends mom for killing father
Who does Electra plot to kill __ with?
their mother Clytemnestra with Orestes (brother)
What happens to Orestes in childhood?
taken from home, raised near Delpi for protection
Oracle tells orestes to avenge father, even if have to kill mom when grown
Who does Orestes kill (in order)?
slays Aegisthus
mother
What happens right after Orestes kills?
claims his justice
Furies / Erinyes drive him crazy
Eumenides
what the Furies become
What is the name of Athena’s court?
Court of Areopagus = hill of ares
what does apollo tell orestes to do?
go to athens for trial for matricide
What revolutionary thing ends the killing cycle in Atreus’ House?
trial by jury with Apollo vs. Furies
Apollo’s argument in court
1) he, a god, ordered Orestes and purified him
2) mom not his blood - just a carrier
babies from men like Ahtena
Furies’ argument in court
their role in avenging is older than Apollo’s role of purifying
Result of court?
jury ties, Athena breaks it in favor of Apollo/Orestia
Wht does Athena do for the losers?
offers to turn Furies to Eumenides - “the kindly ones” - protect spirits of athens
What does the 1st court bring about?
first laws written and revised by demos
Where did Aeschylus fight? Why?
Marathon 490BC - believed in Athens’ greatness
