- 01The House of Atreus
The Oresteia
Justice, revenge, and the birth of civic law.
13Chapters
48Lessons
97Topics
Certificate of completion included
This course was produced by Cavua from a public-domain text.
Skills this course leaves you with.
- Analyze the major themes of justice, revenge, and civic order in The Oresteia
- Explain the plot and dramatic function of Agamemnon, The Libation-Bearers, and The Eumenides
- Interpret key characters such as Clytemnestra, Orestes, Cassandra, and Athena
- Trace how the play moves from blood vengeance to formal trial and civic law
- Identify how divine authority and human institutions shape the resolution of the trilogy
Curriculum
The full table of contents.
Every chapter, every lesson, every topic — laid out before you enroll. Click any chapter to expand it.
- Chapters
- 13
- Lessons
- 48
- Topics
- 97
- 01Contents
- 01Aeschylus's life and surviving plays
- 02Aeschylus's dramatic innovations and major works
- 01The Watchman's Vigil and Anxiety
- 01Beacon of Agamemnon's return
- 02Chorus on the Trojan War and the omen of the eagles
- 03Zeus, Artemis, and the sacrifice at Aulis
- 01Clytemnestra announces Troy's fall
- 02Chorus hymn on Zeus and justice
- 01Rumour and the beacon fires
- 02The herald’s return from Troy
- 03Praise of Agamemnon’s victory
- 01Herald’s account of the Greek army’s hardships
- 02Clytemnestra’s welcome for Agamemnon
- 01Menelaus’s safe return questioned
- 02The Greek fleet lost in the storm
- 01The Chorus on Helen and Troy
- 01The chorus greets Agamemnon and reflects on loyalty
- 02Agamemnon’s speech on Troy’s fall and return home
- 03Clytemnestra’s public welcome
- 01Clytemnestra’s explanation for Orestes’ absence
- 02Clytemnestra’s welcome and the purple tapestry
- 01Agamemnon's reluctance to tread the purple robes
- 02Clytemnestra's praise of the purple dye and royal wealth
- 01The Chorus's foreboding
- 01Cassandra’s prophetic lament
- 02Clytemnestra orders Cassandra inside
- 01Clytemnestra’s impatient summons and Cassandra’s refusal
- 01Cassandra’s vision of Atreus’ cursed house
- 02Prophecy of Agamemnon’s murder in the bath
- 03Cassandra’s lament for Troy and her own death
- 01Cassandra’s vision of the house’s curse
- 02Apollo, prophecy, and Cassandra’s past
- 03The vision of Thyestes’ feast and Clytemnestra’s murder plot
- 01Cassandra’s prophecy of Agamemnon’s murder
- 02Cassandra’s approach to the palace and final lament
- 01Cassandra's warning of bloodshed
- 02Agamemnon's murder and the chorus's alarm
- 01Clytemnestra's confession of Agamemnon's murder
- 01Clytemnestra’s justification for Agamemnon’s murder
- 02The chorus’s condemnation and lament
- 03Clytemnestra’s oath and accusation of Agamemnon’s infidelity
- 01Agamemnon’s death and the chorus’s lament
- 02Clytemnestra’s defense and the curse of Atreus
- 01Agamemnon’s death and burial lament
- 01The curse of Thyestes and Atreus's feast
- 02Aegisthus's claim of rightful vengeance
- 03Chorus rebukes Aegisthus's tyranny
- 01Aegisthus and the Chorus’s confrontation
- 02Orestes at Agamemnon’s tomb
- 01Libations for Agamemnon's tomb
- 02The recognition of Orestes
- 03Apollo's command for vengeance
- 04Invocation at Agamemnon’s tomb
- 05Clytemnestra’s dream and its omen
- 01Orestes' murder plan at the palace gates
- 02The Chorus' lament on fear, women, and ancestral crimes
- 01Orestes brings news of his own death
- 01Kilissa summoned to bring Aegisthus
- 01Prayer for Orestes' victory and return
- 01Aegisthus investigates Orestes’ reported death
- 02The chorus anticipates the murder
- 03Aegisthus’ death and Clytemnestra’s confrontation
- 01Clytemnestra’s plea and Orestes’ resolve
- 02Chorus on vengeance and the house restored
- 01Orestes’ defense of the matricide
- 02Apollo’s command and Orestes’ purification
- 03The Chorus on the curse of Atreus’ house
- 01Pythian Priestess's invocation of Delphi's gods
- 02The priestess's terrified vision of Orestes and the Furies
- 01Apollo’s command to Orestes and Hermes
- 02Clytemnestra’s ghost rouses the Furies
- 01Apollo rebukes the sleeping Furies
- 02Apollo and the Furies argue over Orestes
- 03Orestes seeks Athena’s protection
- 04The Furies’ binding chant and claim of justice
- 01The Furies’ claim of vengeance
- 02Athena’s arrival and Orestes’ plea
- 03Athena establishes a trial
- 04The Chorus warns against overturning justice
- 01Athena convenes the murder trial
- 02Orestes and the Chorus present the case
- 03Apollo's defense of Orestes
- 01Athena's ordinance for the court of judges
- 02The judges' vote and the dispute between Chorus and Apollo
- 01Apollo and the Chorus debate justice
- 01The vote and Orestes’ acquittal
- 01The Chorus’ curse of vengeance
- 02Athena’s appeal and sanctuary for the Furies
- 01Athena’s pledge of honour and sanctuary
- 01Athena’s offer of refuge and civic honor
- 01Athena's covenant of blessing and prosperity
- 01Blessing the land and averting civic ruin
- 02Persuasion, reconciliation, and civic harmony
- 01Athena’s welcome and charge to the escort
- 02Procession to the hidden shrine of the Furies
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