Many people have at least heard of the name Orestes, which is the name of a prominent figure of ancient Greek mythology, but how many of us are actually familiar with his fascinating story?
From the vast mythology of ancient Greece, there are only a few figures as immediately striking as Orestes, son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra.
The story of Orestes is an engaging one full of vengeance, justice, and redemption, providing insight into the extremely complicated moral and ethical dilemmas with which the ancient Greeks were fascinated.
Indeed, the fascinating story of Orestes with his tragedies and victories has become the cornerstone of inspiration in a large number of works of literature. These offer a deeper look into human life, emotions, and the difficulties that arise because of one’s familial duty.
Orestes’ journey begins with the murder of his father, Agamemnon. Orestes’ father was the king of Mycenae, who was tragically murdered by his wife, Orestes’ mother, Clytemnestra, and her lover Aegisthus.
This heartbreaking betrayal set in motion a cycle of vengeance and divine revenge that defined the entire life of young Orestes.
When he was still of young age, Orestes was sent away to safety by either his sister Electra or his nurse, depending on the version of the myth.
This happened so that he could be protected from his murderous mother, who wouldn’t hesitate to kill other members of her family who stood against her will.
Later, as Orestes he had reached manhood and was not an innocent minor struck by family tragedy anymore, Apollo commanded him to undertake the task of his life: to get revenge for the death of his father.
Preparing for his holy task, Orestes returned with his sister Electra and his cousin Pylades to the kingdom of Mycenae. Orestes had no problem murdering Aegisthus. However, he was obviously hesitant in killing his own mother. It was Pylades’ insistence and reminder that this was Apollo’s will that brought Orestes to finally execute his mother.
Orestes is an idol of trial and redemption
The trial of Orestes in Athens is the point at which the issues of justice and atonement are placed at the heart of the narrative. Presided over by goddess Athena herself, the trial of Orestes was one of the most revolutionary events in Greek mythology. This was because it marked a point when a personal vendetta would be stopped and the fate of its protagonists would be determined by a judicial procedure.
Athena’s casting vote for the acquittal of Orestes transformed the Furies into the Eumenides also known as Kindly Ones and marked a dramatic turn in the moral compass of ancient Greek mythology.
This trial not only cleared the crime that Orestes committed but also brought into the open the dilemma between divine justice and human agency. It reflected the difficulty of finding common ground between the will of the gods and the principles and norms of human society —a theme persistent in ancient Greek mythology and literature.
Orestes in ancient Greek mythology and culture
The story of Orestes has been a source of inspiration for centuries for many authors and artists alike. The most prominent example of how his fascinating story is told is in Aeschylus’ Oresteia. This is a beautiful trilogy full of divine will and human justice.
The story of Orestes even captured the imagination of Sophocles and Euripides, who wrote different variations of him and what he goes through morally in this life of fateful events.
The tale of Orestes also exceeded the boundaries of ancient Greek mythology, leaving an indelible mark on Western literature and art overall. His story has found life in operas, plays, and even contemporary films, fascinating audiences with his story around the globe.
We could safely say that Orestes is an archetypal figure of ancient Greek mythology. He is a figure that embodies the timeless themes of vengeance, justice, and redemption all blended in tragedy and hope.
His story elegantly touches on the ancient Greek psyche, appreciation of morality, and human agency as a whole.
