Greek theater - Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, The Eumenides

Aeschylos – Oresteia
Study Guide
Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, The Eumenides
• The ruling family of Argos was subjected to a curse that afflicted generation after
generation
o Starts with Tantalos, a mortal man descended from Zeus
 Tantalos prepared a feast for them, but he served up his own son, Pelops,
as the main course
 All of the gods except Demeter realized what had happened (Demeter, in
her distress over the recent abduction of her daughter, Persephone,
accidentally ate Pelops’ shoulder).
 Tantalos was banished to the Underworld, forced to stand in a stagnant
pond. Whenever thirst drove him to lean down for water, the lake receded.
Whenever hunger drove him to grasp for the fruit tree above his head, it
withered and died. The unwitting Pelops was restored to life, complete
with an ivory replacement shoulder.
o Pelops himself had two sons, Atreus and Thyestes
 Brothers fought for the right to rule the city
