- 01The House of Atreus
The Oresteia
by Aeschylus · c. 458 BCE · 13 chapters · 24/7 tutor
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
01How many chapters are in the Oresteia course?
The Oresteia course has 13 chapters, each with its own lessons and topics.
02How many lessons are in the Oresteia course?
There are 48 lessons across the course, and you can ask your 24/7 tutor about any of them.
03Can I see what the Oresteia course covers before I start?
Yes. The full curriculum is listed on this page, beginning with "BEING THE AGAMEMNON, THE LIBATION-BEARERS AND THE FURIES".
04Do I get a certificate for the Oresteia course?
Yes. Finishing the course earns a personal Cavua certificate of completion.
Keep exploring
View all LiteratureMore in Literature.
New
kenneth Orkin
MariaPrammaggio 2020 FilmFourthEditionACri
LiteratureBeginner
3chapters45m
With membership
Or preview chapter 1 free
Updated Oct 2026
Cavua Seed Library
The Canterbury Tales
LiteratureBeginner
44chapters18h 54m
This course was produced by Cavua from a public-domain text.
With membership
Or preview chapter 1 free
Updated Oct 2026
Cavua Seed Library
The Awakening
LiteratureAll levels
9chapters4h 18m
This course was produced by Cavua from a public-domain text.
With membership
Or preview chapter 1 free
Updated Oct 2026
Cavua Seed Library
Gulliver's Travels
LiteratureBeginner
9chapters7h 6m
This course was produced by Cavua from a public-domain text.
With membership
Or preview chapter 1 free
Updated Oct 2026
Cavua Seed Library
The Bacchae
LiteratureIntermediate
2chapters1h 54m
This course was produced by Cavua from a public-domain text.
With membership
Or preview chapter 1 free
Updated Oct 2026
Cavua Seed Library
Metamorphoses
LiteratureBeginner
21chapters8h 24m
This course was produced by Cavua from a public-domain text.
With membership
Or preview chapter 1 free
Updated Oct 2026
Learn with AI
Ready to start this course?
Create your account to enroll, talk to your 24/7 tutor, and track your progress — across every device.