Around 1250-1200 BCE in ancient Greece, trouble was brewing in the city of Argos, following the alleged Trojan War. Aeschylus’s The Oresteia depicts an ancient family’s struggle for vengeance and justice. Throughout The Oresteia, the descendants of brothers, Thyestes and Atreus, appear to have been in a seemingly ceaseless cycle of blood crimes in the name of vengeance. These descendants were constantly pursued by the wrathful Furies, which represent the ancient law system of Greece. The Furies would stop at nothing to ensure that vengeance was sought and justice was served. In the first play, Agamemnon, it was immediately clear that vengeance would play a crucial role as the chorus stated that when vengeance comes “you’ll lose your loved
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The Furies represent the old gods and the ancient laws of Greece. Apollo represents the new gods of Greece, and a new notion of justice. In reference to the Furies’ ancient beliefs, Apollo states that “Justice and bloody slaughter are the same” (Aeschylus 239). Apollo hopes for Orestes freedom, and he does not want the bloody cycle of violence and retribution to continue. Apollo gets his wish when Orestes seeks the help of Athena, the daughter of Zeus. Athena realizes that Orestes’s case is not black and white; she is not entirely sure that putting him to death is the morally right and just thing to do. She recognizes that the justice system of vengeance in Greece is somewhat flawed, and she puts together a jury to hold a trial on the issue of Orestes’s innocence (or potential lack thereof). The court decided that Orestes should go free, greatly angering the Furies; however, Athena tamed the Furies and considerably reduced their power in society. Athena defended her newfound justice system and calmed the Furies by wisely stating, “You were not defeated—the vote was tied, a verdict fairly reached with no disgrace to you” (Aeschylus 267). Athena resolved many issues of law and justice by establishing a formal legal system that is sponsored by the state in order to enforce a rational method for conducting
The Furies represent the old gods and the ancient laws of Greece. Apollo represents the new gods of Greece, and a new notion of justice. In reference to the Furies’ ancient beliefs, Apollo states that “Justice and bloody slaughter are the same” (Aeschylus 239). Apollo hopes for Orestes freedom, and he does not want the bloody cycle of violence and retribution to continue. Apollo gets his wish when Orestes seeks the help of Athena, the daughter of Zeus. Athena realizes that Orestes’s case is not black and white; she is not entirely sure that putting him to death is the morally right and just thing to do. She recognizes that the justice system of vengeance in Greece is somewhat flawed, and she puts together a jury to hold a trial on the issue of Orestes’s innocence (or potential lack thereof). The court decided that Orestes should go free, greatly angering the Furies; however, Athena tamed the Furies and considerably reduced their power in society. Athena defended her newfound justice system and calmed the Furies by wisely stating, “You were not defeated—the vote was tied, a verdict fairly reached with no disgrace to you” (Aeschylus 267). Athena resolved many issues of law and justice by establishing a formal legal system that is sponsored by the state in order to enforce a rational method for conducting