Explore "Orestes" by Euripides on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Composed in 408 BC, this tragedy concerns the aftermath of Orestes' murder of his mother Clytemnestra to avenge the death of his father Agamemnon. In the chronology of events following Orestes, the play takes place after the events contained in plays such as Electra by Euripides or The Libation Bearers by Aeschylus, and before events contained in plays like The Eumenides by Aeschylus and Andromache by Euripides.
Despite Apollo's earlier prophecy, Orestes finds himself tormented by Erinyes (Furies) to the blood guilt stemming from his matricide. The only person capable of aiding Orestes in his madness is his sister Electra. To complicate matters further, a leading political faction of Argos wants to put Orestes to death for the murder. Orestes' only hope to save his life lies in his uncle Menelaus, who has returned with Helen after spending ten years in Troy and several more years amassing wealth in Egypt.