The Oresteia

The Oresteia is a trilogy of ancient Greek plays by Aeschylus that explores themes of justice, revenge, and the cycle of violence. It tells the story of the family of King Agamemnon: his wife Clytemnestra, who murders him to avenge their daughter’s death; and their son, Orestes, who later kills his mother to restore honor. The plays examine how vengeance leads to a cycle of bloodshed and how justice evolves from personal revenge to a structured legal system. Ultimately, it highlights the transition from primal revenge to societal order represented by the establishment of the courtroom.