Orestes
Orestes was the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. He was
sent away by his mother, while his father was away fighting in the
Trojan War. When Agamemnon returned from the war, he was
killed by Clytemnestra and she gave power of kingship to her
lover, Aegisthus. When Orestes was old enough he returned
home to avenge his fathers death, at the command of the god
Apollo. He killed Aegisthus, which was expected since he in-
part had his fathered murder. Then he killed his mother
Clytemnestra, which had the same punishment as not killing
her. Now the Eumenides began to pursue Orestes for the
murder of his mother even though he had obey a god. He fled
to the city of Athens where he put to trial presided over by
Athena and juried by the Areopagus. It was said that since his
mother was only a vessel in which the child was carried and
that the man produced the child, he was found innocent and
the Eumenides gave up their chase.
Mask of Agamemnon
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