The Eumenides 2

1
The Eumenides 2
2
The Eumenides Plot (cont.)

• C. Pre-trial before Athena (397-489)
• 1. Athenas introduction (397-414)
• a. Shes been away at Troy (397-404)
• b. Asks the identity of the litigants note
  praise of Athens in 406 (404-414)
• 2. Eumenides present their case (415-435)
• a. Note their one-sided view (426-427)
• b. They entrust the case to Athena (433-435)
• 3. Orestes presents his case (436-469)
• a. He has been purified already (443-452)
• b. Tells the story and admits that he murdered
  his mother (452-464)

3
The Eumenides Plot (cont.)

• c. Tells of Apollos role in the deed (465-467)
• d. Likewise entrusts the case to Athena (468-469)
• 4. Athena decides to create a court to decide the
  case (470-489)
• a. She recognizes that Orestes has been purified
  of the crime (470-475)
• b. She cannot ignore the Eumenides because they
  will harm Athens (476-481)
• c. She decides to create a court of the best
  citizens (481-484)

4
Areopagus from the North
5
Areopagus and Acropolis
6
Areopagus from the East
7
The Eumenides Plot (cont.)

• D. 3rd Stasimon (490-565)
• 1. The fear the precedent (490-498)
• 2. If Orestes is acquitted the misery they cause
  is stripped of reason (499-515)
• 3. Suffering has a pedagogic/moral value
  (516-525)
• 4. They oppose the might-makes-right way of the
  world (526-549)
• 5. Right wins out arrogant wrong is punished
  (550-565)
• E. The Trial (566-777)
• 1. The second chorus enters (566-573)

8
The Eumenides Plot (cont.)

• 2. Apollo claims responsibility for
  Clytemnestras death and confirms that he
  cleansed Orestes (576-581)
• 3. Eumenides interrogate Orestes note 605
  (582-608)
• 4. Orestes appeals to Apollo for help (609-613)
• 5. Chorus interrogates Apollo (614-673)
• a. Apollos always speaks Zeus will (616-618)
• b. Zeus justice is strong (619-621)
• c. Sophistic argument a mother isnt really a
  parent witness Athena (657-666)
• d. He will strengthen Athens (bribe) and make a
  lasting alliance between Argos and Athens
  (667-673)
• 6. Interrogation phase ends (674-680)

9
The Eumenides Plot (cont.)

• 7. Athena creates the Areopagus (681-710)
• 8. Apollo and Eumenides exchange threats he
  threatens them, they threaten Athens (711-733)
• 9. Athena votes for acquittal because she prefers
  males (734-743)
• 10. The votes are counted and Orestes is
  acquitted by a split vote (744-753)
• 11. Orestes thanks Athena, promises future
  alliance between Argos and Athens, exits
  (754-777)
• F. The Eumenides receive a new role (778-1047)
• 1. Eumenides complain and threaten Athena offers
  them a place in the city (778-891)
• a. Eumenides will have their revenge on Athens
  (778-793)

10
The Eumenides Plot (cont.)

• b. Athena offers them an alternative (794-807)
• c. They have been overpowered by younger gods and
  will punish the city (808-822)
• d. Athena reminds them she has access to Zeus
  power (824-829)
• e. They appeal to their mother, Night (837-847)
• f. Athena foretells Athens future glory
  (851-857)
• g. Eumenides finally won over (892-926)
• h. The Eumenides bless Athens as Athena
  establishes them as the correctors of Athenian
  behavior (927-995)
• i. They depart (996-1031)
• j. Another chorus joins in (1032-1047)

11
Orpheus and Eurydice

• Orpheus
• The human originator of music and poetry.
• Please ignore everything you read of Orphic
  cults.
• Eurydice
• His new wife.
• Dies.
• The myth Orpheus trip to Hades to rescue
  Eurydice.