Introduction to the Ancient World: Greece

Lecture 15 

Aeschylus' Oresteia, contd.

I. Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, and the carpet scene (905ff.)

II. Dominant images and themes

A. Helen and Troy (685ff.: helenaus, helandros, helepolis; 1158ff, 1485ff.; Troy: 335ff., 515ff., 546ff.)           
B. Iphigenia's sacrifice (200ff., 864ff., 14442ff., 1582ff.)
C. Persuasion (115, 385ff., carpet scene; LB 714; Eum. 839, 981)
D. Irony and tragic irony (513, 595ff., 1045, 225, 355; LB 695f. ); cf. male vs. female (352ff., 1425, 1705ff.; LB 876; Eum. 665ff.)
E. Pollution and healing; entanglement and nets

III. The moralpathei mathos ("wisdom through suffering"); cf. LB 1014-17

IV. The Libation Bearers

A. Progress and Sameness of Plot and Themes
B."Apollo made me do it": 394-465; 883ff.
C. Sane humanity: The Nurse (722ff.)
D. Justice? 871, 915-17,925, 982; conclusion (1064ff.)

V. The Eumenides ("Kindly Ones")

A. old gods (chthonic) vs. new gods (Olympian); purpose of Furies (325ff., 558ff.)
B. arguments in court (600ff.)
C. Athena and the transformation of the Furies (692 to end)

VI. Is the Oresteia "tragic"?

Lecture 15 Images 


modified Feb.28, 2005
s_davies@mail.utexas.edu