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A Student’s Companion toA Student’s Companion toA Student’s Companion to Oresteia TrilogyOresteia TrilogyOresteia Trilogy

by Robert W. Watsonby Robert W. Watsonby Robert W. Watson

Oresteia Trilogy / 1

Introduction to Oresteia Trilogy by Aeschylus

A GAMEMNON is the first play in the trilogy, Oresteia by Aeschylus. The other two plays are The Libation-Bearers and The Furies. The plays recount the curse on the lineage of

Atreus. This unfortunate family had a history of committing horrible acts of violence, and the atrocities were always countered by revenge. The first play has Agamemnon returning to his home victorious after the defeat of Troy. Agamemnon was the Commander-in-Chief of the Greek army that went to war against Troy. Though victorious on the battlefield, Agamemnon meets a tragic death as he comes home to his wife, Clytemnestra. However, before you begin reading, I want to give you some background information for the reason of Agamemnon’s death and for the events that followed.

The story begins with Tantalus, a son of Zeus. Tantalus was given great privileges with the gods. Yet, Tantalus hated the gods. In order to prove that the gods could be deceived, Tantalus kills his son, Pelops, boils him, and serves him to the gods. But the gods were not deceived. For such a heinous crime, Tantalus was punished in Hades by being put into a pool of water up to his chin. When Tantalus tried to get a drink of water, the water would recede. Tantalus is never able to get a drink of water to quench his thirst. As you may have noticed, we get our English word tantalise (or tantalize) from Tantalus.

The gods bring Pelops back to life. Pelops has two sons—Atreus and Thyestes. Thyestes succeeds in seducing Atreus’ wife. When he learns about his brother’s deed, Atreus kills Thyestes’ two sons, boils them, and serves the dead sons to their father to eat. Thyestes was unable to avenge the great wrong in his lifetime, since Atreus was the king. But Atreus pays for his sin through his children and grandchildren.

Atreus has two sons—Agamemnon and Menelaus. As you will recall, Menelaus was the husband of Helen, for whose sake the Trojan War was fought. After reclaiming Helen after the war, Menelaus lives happily ever after, and he is spoken well of in Homer’s Odyssey. On the other hand, Agamemnon is doomed.

Agamemnon and Clytemnestra have three children—Iphigenia, Orestes, and Electra. When the thousand ships of Greece were ready to sail, they were unable to do so because Diana (Artemis), goddess of the hunt, caused the northern winds to keep blowing. The prophet Calchas tells Agamemnon that the goddess was angry because a hare, an animal sacred to Diana (other accounts say a deer), was killed by the Greek soldiers. The only atonement for the deed was for Agamemnon to sacrifice his daughter, Iphigenia. Apparently, the Greek gods valued the life of animals above that of humans. Such a sacrifice was outrageous to even the hardest of hearts. Yet, to save face and to preserve his pride with the army and to gain possible glory for Greece by defeating Troy, Agamemnon kills his daughter. Because of this, Clytemnestra never forgives Agamemnon and seeks vengeance. While Agamemnon was fighting the Trojans, Clytemnestra acquires a lover named Aegisthus, the son of Thyestes. Together these two plot the murder of Agamemnon, and the murder is successful.

Later, after being commanded by Apollo, Orestes, son of Agamemnon, avenges the death of his father by killing both Aegisthus and Clytemnestra, Orestes’ mother. The Libation-Bearers is about the revenge of Orestes. Of course, the central issue is whether Orestes is justified for killing his mother, a crime which is as egregious as a wife’s killing her husband.

For this murder, Orestes is pursued by the Furies, the avengers for Clytemnestra, who honour the long-standing code that no one should kill his mother and get away with it. Thus, in The Furies, Orestes flees from the avengers in order to receive help from Apollo and Athena. Only with divine help is Orestes able to return home, free from guilt. However, he can do so only after he admits his guilt. Because of his sufferings, Orestes is now purified. No one from the

2 / Oresteia Trilogy

House of Atreus had ever suffered for his guilt nor desired cleansing before. This being the case, Athena accepts the plea of Orestes, frees him from the Furies’ pursuit, and ends the curse on the House of Atreus. Even the Furies cease from being a curse, but rather become a blessing to the inhabitants of Athens.

Central to the plot in the Trilogy is the confusion of roles. Clytemnestra is quite “unwifely,” a woman who kills a man. Electra and Orestes are both confused about their role as being the daughter and son of the murderer of their father. Even there is confusion between the time-honoured vengeance for murder, when the son kills the murderer of his father, who happens to be his own mother. Watch for these conflicts as you read the plays.

The Oresteia Trilogy is a rare work of genius. While Aeschylus explores the cosmos, our feet are still firmly on the ground. Even though the great issues of life and death are presented, we are still in touch with that which makes us human. There is indeed great tragedy, but it points to a profound Biblical truth: sin has its consequences. Our actions done in the present will always have effects long after the deeds are done. ROBERT W. WATSON


Agamemnon Lesson One

1.1 Vocabulary

meed n. adage n. rapine n. presage n. garish adj. credulous adj. 1.2 Vocabulary Exercise

1. When Frank failed to study for the final examination, he had a ___________ that he would not do well.

2. When the lord gave the knight the shield of gold, the gift was a fitting ___________ for the knight’s brave service in battle.

3. When the young boy said that he was abducted by aliens, we who found him in the wood were not _________________ enought to believe his story.

4. The saying, “The victors write the history,” may be trite, but it is an _____________ of unquestionable validity.

5. No one could convince Shannon that her __________ makeup prevented her natural beauty from being appreciated.

6. The marauding Union army practiced a _____________ that was unprecedented among civilised nations, but that was common among the most barbaric of them.

1.3 Reading Assignment: Aeschylus: The Oresteia Trilogy—Agamemnon, pp. 1-20 1..4 Recall Questions

1. What signal is the watchman looking for?

2. What is the meaning of the signal?

3. How long did the Trojan war last?

4. Who are the “twin lords…the doughty chiefs of Atreus’ race”?

5. Who is the woman that “one did wed but many woo’d”?

6. When the Chorus states, “Thus on his neck he took / Fate’s hard compelling yoke,” of whom are they speaking and about what event?

7. When Clytemnestra states, “Priam’s city” is taken, what city is she talking about?


8. According to Clytemnestra, what besides the “lords of Troy” have fallen?

9. After several days have past, the Leader questions the validity of the signal fires. However, who does he see coming to the city?

10. This man states that a certain god is his “patron” and his “pride.” Who is this god? Why do you think this god is the patron of the man?

11. The leader talking to the man states that “On you too then this sweet distress did fall.” What is the “sweet distress”?

12. The man announced that the Greek fleet ran into a what on the way back to home?

1.5 Critical Thinking

In the Chorus on page 26, explain how Helen becomes a symbol for destruction both for the Trojans and the Greeks.

1.6 Bonus Thoughts

Argive and Ilion: These two names are for Greece and Troy respectively.


Agamemnon Lesson Two

2.1 Vocabulary

raze v. specious adj. thwart v. weal n. fulsome adj. appanage n. 2.2 Vocabulary Exercise

1. When the corrupt politician offered his flattering remarks about my book, this was _____________ praise indeed, because I sensed the man’s insincerity.

2. The premise that public schools are necessary in order for the poor to get an education is _____________, because public schools do not exist for education, but for vocational and social training.

3. Even though lobbyists appear to be working for the interests of the grassroots, in reality they accept the ______________ of politicians, and thus most lobbies become protection agencies against the common citizen.

4. Fortunately, the landslide happened just minutes after we went through the pass; otherwise, the tons of earth would have ______________ our departing to safety.

5. Seldom have I found such a town that had neighbours concerned about the common ___________ of the community.

6. Many “urban-renewal” projects were simply schemes by wealthy men who __________ entire local communities in order to take the land for their own enrichment.

2.3 Reading Assignment: Aeschylus: The Oresteia Trilogy—Agamemnon, pp. 21–40 2.4 Recall Questions

1. According to the Chorus, what do wrong actions create?

2. According to the Chorus, “pride accursed” is the child of what two things?

3. What is the name of the woman who is with Agamemnon when he enters in his chariot?

4. Agamemnon states that there was one man who was like “a trusty trace-horse bound unto my car.” Who was this man?

5. Why does Agamemnon object to his walking upon the tapestry spread before him by Clytemnestra’s attendant ladies?


6. What does Cassandra refuse to do even though she is commanded by Clytemnestra to follow her?

7. What unusual gift does Cassandra have?

8. Whose two deaths does Cassandra predict?


Do you agree with Agamemnon when he states, “War is not woman’s part, nor war of words”? Would he be correct if war were confined between warriors? How does the concept of “total war” make war the business of women as well as soldiers? Discuss.

Agamemnon Lesson Three

3.1 Vocabulary

rede n. satiate v. sanguine adj. prescience n. recompense n. vaunt v. 3.2 Vocabulary Exercise

1. John Donald Wade remarked that money was like a drug; even a little bit more would never _____________ the addiction to it.

2. Since I was younger than Mr. Hartwell, I valued his __________ concerning the advantages of different investments.

3. We get tired of hearing David ____________ his trip to Europe; it’s not that we’re envious, but that we have heard about it so often.

4. After the riot, the streets and sidewalks of the city were coloured with the ___________ hue of blood.

5. Because Tommy broke Mr. Wilson’s window with a baseball, his mowing his neighbour’s grass was a just _______________ for his careless act.

6. Well, at least you had the _______________ to bring an umbrella, since the skies looked threatening this morning.

3.3 Reading Assignment: Aeschylus: The Oresteia Trilogy—Agamemnon, pp. 41–65


3.4 Recall Questions

1. What does Cassandra warn the Chorus to do regarding Agamemnon and his seeing Clytemnestra?

2. Upon hearing the king is being murdered, the Chorus is in confusion but decides finally to enter the palace to help him. But before doing so, who comes to the doorway?

3. How many times was Agamemnon stabbed?

4. According to Clytemnestra, what was “sweeter” than “the rain of heaven / To cornland”?

5. The Chorus is angry with Clytemnestra for killing the king, but she accuses them of being silent whenever what sacrifice took place?

6. What is the justification that Clytemnestra offers for the slaying of Agamemnon?

7. Aegisthus is the son of whom?

8. What was Aegisthus motive for killing Agamemnon?


Explain how Clytemnestra displays her hypocrisy throughout the play.

Explain how Agamemnon is a tragic hero.

What is the tragic flaw of Agamemnon? Discuss.


The Libation-Bearers Lesson One

1.1 Vocabulary

libation n. aver n. bane adj. quarry n. waft v. 1.2 Vocabulary Exercise

1. After reading Arabian Nights, many children dreamed about magic carpets that would ___________ them gently through the air.

2. When Sally ____________ that she saw a bear in the backyard, we believed her, because she has never lied to us before.

3. While it should be a blessing to mankind, during the 20th century, science was the __________ for millions of people, since technology made war more terrible.

4. When we succeeded in drilling a well in this dry land, father took the first cup of water and poured it out onto the ground as if he were offering a ____________ in an ancient ritual.

5. It seemed that the police officers were about to catch the robber; however, they lost their _________________, who blended with the crowd.

1.3 Reading Assignment: Aeschylus: The Oresteia Trilogy—The Libation-Bearers, pp. 67–89 1.4 Recall Questions

1. Whose grave does Orestes grieve over?

2. Who is among the women bearing libations whom Orestes recognises?

3. According to the Chorus of women, who is the “nursing mother”?

4. According to Electra, what “[a]waits alike the freeman and the slave”?

5. Electra prays to Hermes that the god may direct whom to come back home?

6. What object (left by Orestes) does Electra discover on the grave?

7. To whom does Electra refer when she states, “For she is very hate”?

8. Why does Orestes have the confidence that his revenge will be successful?


9. During the invocation at the tomb of Agamemnon, to whom does Electra talk to in her prayers?

10. According to the Chorus, what did Clytemnestra dream that she was going to bare?


Can Electra and Orestes justify killing their mother in order to avenge the death of their father? Why or why not?

Should citizens allow agents of the government to be the sole administers of justice? Why or why not? What if the government is controlled by criminals who are enslaving the citizens? Would this fact make a difference with your first answer? Why?

The Libation-Bearers

Lesson Two

2.1 Vocabulary

coeval adj. scant adj. fictive adj. ineffectual adj. imbrue v. 2.2 Vocabulary Exercise

1. Aeschylus and Sophocles were not __________ playwrights since the two men lived in different centuries.

2. During our visit to France, my brother carelessly fell into a vat full of grapes, and the juice ______________ his new clothes.

3. Abigail believed that the offered class in creative loafing was a _________ pretext for a college course.

4. I wonder why John even came to the lecture; with his feet propped up on the chair in front of him and with his eyes closed, he paid ____________ attention to the speaker.

5. The doctor’s recommendation to eat five carrots a day proved to be an ________________ treatment for correcting my failing sight.


1. How does Orestes with his companion, Pylades, propose to enter the city undetected?

2. According to the Chorus, what “planted the anvil” and what “forgeth the sword”?


3. What message does Orestes make up to tell to his mother?

4. What message was Kilissa to deliver to Aegisthus from Clytemnestra?

5. What is Orestes answer to Clytemnestra when she stated that Agamemnon’s death was due to the Fates?

6. To what does Orestes refer when he says, “Behold this too, the dark device which bound / My sire unhappy to his death”?

7. What does Orestes see that causes him to leave the palace in haste?


The Chorus welcomes the violent overthrow of Clytemnestra and Aegisthus. Is it just to regain the government by bloodshed if it were usurped in the first place? Discuss.

Is all politics in reality warfare? Does all warfare have to have bloodshed? Consider Ephesians 6:12 and then discuss.


The Furies Lesson One

1.1 Vocabulary

beldame n. descry v. ire n. mirk (also murk) n. expiation n. 1.2 Vocabulary Exercise

1. We children knew better than to suffer the _______ of our mother, who had a quick temper and even quicker switch.

2. Everyone in the community _____________ a bit of hope in the mayor’s voice when hearing the river has reached its crest.

3. I have yet to see Hamlet where the three witches were not characterised as ____________, being old and ugly.

4. Since he broke the only memento of our great-grandmother, my brother was not forgiven by our mother until he showed full _____________ for his carelessness.

5. The lost hikers were depressed enough without the surrounding _________ that added to the gloom of their situation.

1.3 Reading Assignment: Aeschylus: The Oresteia Trilogy—The Furies, pp. 111–130 1.4 Recall Questions

1. What does the Pythian Priestess see at the altar that causes her to be afraid?

2. What promise does Apollo give to Orestes, while the young man was clinging to the altar in the temple at Delphi?

3. To what city does Apollo tell Orestes to go?

4. Who awakens the Furies from their sleep?

5. Who tells the Furies to leave the temple?

6. To whom do the Furies appeal to be the judge whether their cause is just?

7. According to Athena, what happens if the Furies do not avenge the death of Clytemnestra?



Is Apollo correct when he states that vengeance on the murderer of a husband is a greater duty than punishing the murder of the mother who is guilty of the first crime? Why or why not?

Orestes offers the defence that he was merely following the orders of a higher authority. Is this a good defence? If a superior were to order you to do something immoral, are you to follow the order regardless? Why or why not?

The Furies Lesson Two

2.1 Vocabulary

assoil v. lustral adj. mete v. eschew v. bale n. 2.2 Vocabulary Exercise

1. When the messenger reported that the neighbouring city had fallen to the Huns, all of the citizens knew that this was a tiding of ____________ to their fair city.

2. The ______________ bowl was an important part to the ceremony of purification practiced by the Babylonians.

3. As leader of the expedition, I was responsible to _________ out the rations in order that we would have enough food for the duration of the journey.

4. The powerful lord _____________ the rebellious knights, so long as they renewed their allegiance to him.

5. It is wise to ______________ those who can get you into trouble, and to choose those who are truly friends.


1. According to the Furies, what is the “child of pain”?

2. After Athena re-enters with the twelve citizens, Apollo appears. What does Apollo say will be his role in the proceedings?

3. Why does Apollo reject the analogy of Zeus and his father, Cronos, as being the same as Clytemnesta’s act towards Agamemnon?


4. For whom does Athena cast her vote?

5. How did the citizens divide their votes between Orestes and the Furies?

6. What vow does Orestes give to Athena as he departs with Apollo?

7. Even though the Furies are older than she is, what does Athena have that matches the Furies?

8. How does Athena convince the Furies to set aside their wrath?


Consider the vote of the citizens. In the case of a democracy, should the civil government act when a clear majority is not evident (in this case, a tie)? Does Athena’s breaking the tie represent the “will of the people”? Discuss.


Glossary for Oresteia Trilogy adage (²d“¹j) n. A saying of a general truth that has gained credit through long use appanage (²p“…-n¹j) n. Something extra offered to or claimed by a party as something due; a

perquisite; a gratuity or a right assoil (…-soil“) v. To absolve; pardon; to atone for aver (…-vûr“) v. To affirm positively; declare; assert bale(b³l) n. Evil; mental suffering; anguish bane (b³n) n. Fatal injury or ruin; a cause of death, destruction, or ruin beldame (bμl“d…m) n. An old woman, especially one who is considered ugly coeval (k½-¶“v…l) adj. Originating or existing during the same period credulous (krμj“…-l…s) adj. Unsuspecting; easily deceived; gullible descry (d¹-skrº“) v. To catch sight of something difficult to discern; to discover by careful

observation or scrutiny; detect eschew (μs-ch›“) v. To avoid; shun; escape expiation (μk”sp¶-³“sh…n) n. The act of atonement; a means of atoning fictive (f¹k“t¹v) adj. Of, relating to, or able to engage in imaginative invention; relating to or

being fiction; fictional; not genuine; sham fulsome (f‹l“s…m) adj. Nauseous, rank; offensive garish (gâr“¹sh) adj. Extravagant; gaudy, showy imbrue (¹m-br›“) v. To saturate; to stain ineffectual (¹n”¹-fμk“ch›-…l) adj. Insufficient to produce a desired effect; useless; weak ire (ºr) n. Anger; wrath libation (lº-b³“sh…n) n. The pouring of a liquid offering as a religious ritual; the liquid so poured lustral (l¾s“tr…l) adj. Relating to or used in a rite of purification meed (m¶d) n. Reward; recompense, merit mete (m¶t) v. To measure; to ascertain quantity by a standard or rule mirk (mûrk) n. Partial or total darkness; gloom presage (prμs“¹j) n. An indication or a warning of a future occurrence; an omen; a feeling or an

intuition of what is going to occur; a presentiment; prophetic significance or meaning prescience (pr¶“sh¶-…ns) n. Knowledge of actions or events before they occur; foresight quarry (kwôr“¶) n. A hunted animal; prey; an object of pursuit rapine (r²p“¹n) n. Violence, force; plundering raze (r³z) v. To overthrow, destroy; subvert from foundation recompense (rμk“…m-pμns”) n. Amends made for damage or loss; payment for something rede (r¶d) n. Advice or counsel sanguine (s²ng“gw¹n) adj. Red; ruddy; cheerfully confident; optimistic satiate (s³“sh¶-³t”) v. To satisfy an appetite or a desire fully; to satisfy to excess scant (sk²nt) adj. Barely sufficient; falling short of a specific measure specious (sp¶“sh…s) adj. Showy or pleasing to the view; apparently right thwart (thwôrt) v. To prevent the occurrence, realization, or attainment of vaunt (vônt) v. To speak boastfully of; brag about waft (wäft) v. To cause to go gently and smoothly through the air or over water; to convey or

send floating through the air or over water weal (w¶l) n. A sound state, a state that is prosperous; state or public interest

Agamemnon Vocabulary Quiz

Instructions: Match the word with its definition. A. meed B. adage C. rapine D. presage E. garish F. credulous G. raze H. specious I. thwart J. weal K. fulsome L. appanage M. rede N. satiate O. sanguine P. prescience Q. recompense R. vaunt 1. _____ nauseous, rank; offensive

2. _____ to speak boastfully of; brag about

3. _____ to overthrow, destroy; subvert from foundation

4. _____ knowledge of actions or events before they occur

5. _____ violence, force; plundering

6. _____ a gratuity or a right; something extra offered

7. _____ extravagant; gaudy, showy

8. _____ to satisfy to excess

9. _____ a sound, prosperous state; state or public interest

10. _____ unsuspecting; easily deceived; gullible

11. _____ amends made, as for damage or loss; payment in return for service

12. _____ reward; recompense, merit

13. _____ to prevent the occurrence, realization, or attainment of

14. _____ advice or counsel

15. _____ a presentiment; prophetic significance or meaning; omen

16. _____ showy or pleasing to the view; apparently right

17. _____ the color of blood; red; cheerfully confident; optimistic

18. _____ a saying that sets forth general truth and has gained credit through long use

The Libation-Bearers and Furies Vocabulary Quiz

Instructions: Match the word with its definition. A. libation B. aver C. bane D. quarry E. waft F. coeval G. scant H. fictive I. ineffectual J. imbrue K. beldame L. descry M. ire N. mirk O. expiation P. assoil Q. lustral R. mete S. eschew T. bale 1. _____ barely sufficient; falling short of a specific measure

2. _____ partial or total darkness; gloom

3. _____ to saturate; to stain

4. _____ fatal injury or ruin

5. _____ to measure

6. _____ anger; wrath

7. _____ relating to or being fiction; not genuine; sham

8. _____ evil; mental suffering; anger

9. _____ an object of pursuit; prey

10. _____ the act of atonement; a means of atoning

11. _____ originating or existing during the same period

12. _____ to discover by careful observation or scrutiny; detect

13. _____ the pouring of a liquid offering as a religious ritual

14. _____ to absolve; to pardon

15. _____ to cause to go gently and smoothly through the air or over water

16. _____ insufficient to produce a desired effect; useless; worthless

17. _____ an old woman, especially one who is considered ugly

18. _____ to affirm positively; declare; assert

19. _____ to avoid; shun; escape

20. _____ relating to or used in a rite of purification

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Answer Keys to the Oresteia Trilogy

Agamemnon Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 1 1. presage 2. meed 3. credulous 4. adage 5. garish 6. rapine Lesson 1 1. The signal is a beacon light. 2. The meaning of the signal is the defeat of Troy. 3. The Trojan War lasted ten years. 4. The twin lords were Agamemnon and Menelaus. 5. The woman was Helen. 6. The Chorus speaks about Agamemnon, and the event is the sacrifice of his daughter. 7. Priam’s city is Troy. 8. The shrines of Troy have also fallen. 9. The Leader sees a herald from Agamemnon’s forces. 10. The god is Hermes (Mercury); Hermes was the messenger of the gods, and the herald was a

messenger himself. 11. The sweet distress is home sickness. 12. The fleet encountered a storm. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 2 1. fulsome 2. specious 3. appanage 4. thwarted 5. weal 6. raze Lesson 2 1. Wrong actions create woe. 2. Pride is the child of Sin and Woe. 3. The woman is Cassandra. 4. The man was Odysseus (Ulysses). 5. Agamemnon feared the act was too arrogant and was befitting only for the gods. 6. Cassandra refused to leave the chariot. 7. Cassandra was a prophetess and could foresee the future. 8. Cassandra predicts her own and Agamemnon’s death.

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Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 3 1. satiate 2. rede 3. vaunt 4. sanguine 5. recompense 6. prescience Lesson 3 1. Cassandra warns the Chorus to keep Agamemnon away from Clytemnestra. 2. Clytemnestra comes to the doorway. 3. Clytemnestra stabbed Agamemnon three times. 4. Agamemnon’s blood was what Clytemnestra was referring to. 5. The Chorus was accused of being silent when Clytemnestra’s daughter was sacrificed. 6. Clytemnestra states that Agamemnon’s death was just for the killing of her daughter. 7. Aegisthus is the son of Thyestes. 8. Aegisthus’ motive is to avenge his father’s humiliation when Agamemnon’s father, Atreus,

served Thyestes’ sons to him, boiled and stewed.

The Libation-Bearers Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 1 1. waft 2. averred 3. bane 4. libation 5. quarry Lesson 1 1. Orestes grieves over his father’s grave (Agamemnon). 2. Electra is with the women. 3. The Earth is the nursing mother. 4. The day of death and doom awaits both freemen and slaves. 5. Electra prays that Orestes will return home. 6. Electra discovers the lock of hair that Orestes placed on the grave. 7. Electra refers to her mother, Clytemnestra. 8. Orestes was informed by the oracle of Apollo that he will not fail. 9. Electra talks to Agamemnon, her dead father. 10. Clytemnestra dreamed that she would bear a serpent. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 2 1. coeval 2. imbrued 3. fictive 4. scant 5. ineffectual

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Lesson 2 1. Orestes and his friend will disguise themselves as travelers. 2. Justice planted the anvil, and Destiny forged the sword. 3. The message states that Orestes is dead. 4. Aegisthus was to come to Clytemnestra with an armed bodyguard. 5. Orestes replied that his mother’s death was also caused by the Fates. 6. Orestes refers to the robe of Agamemnon. 7. Orestes sees the “hell-hounds” (the Furies) coming after him.

The Furies Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 1 1. ire 2. descried 3. beldames 4. expiation 5. mirk Lesson 1 1. The priestess sees a man “abhorred of heaven” who was holding a sword with fresh blood

on it. Near this man were monstrous women, who are asleep. 2. Apollo promises never to desert Orestes even until the end. 3. Orestes is to go to the city of Pallas (Athena), which is Athens. 4. The Furies are awakened by the ghost of Clytemnestra. 5. Apollo tells the Furies to leave the temple. 6. The Furies appeal to Athena to be the judge. 7. The Furies will create a plague in the land. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 2 1. bale 2. lustral 3. mete 4. assoiled 5. eschew Lesson 2 1. Wisdom is the child of pain. 2. Apollo has appeared as a witness for Orestes. 3. Zeus merely bound his father, whereas Clytemnestra killed Agamemnon. 4. Athena casts her vote for Orestes. 5. The vote was split six and six. 6. Orestes vows that his land will never fight against Athens again. 7. Athena has as much wisdom as the Furies do. 8. Athena offers the Furies a refuge in Athens, and they will be honoured with worshippers.

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Agamemnon

1. K 2. R 3. G 4. P 5. C 6. L 7. E 8. N 9. J 10. F 11. Q 12. A 13. I 14. M 15. D 16. H 17. O 18. B

Libation-Bearers and Furies

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