The Oresteia

Greek playwright Aeschylus composed “The Oresteia,” a trilogy of plays, in 458 BC. Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides are the three interwoven plays that make up the trilogy. The curse on the House of Atreus is the central theme of these timeless dramas.

The story takes place with the murder of King Agamemnon by his wife, Queen Clytaemnestra, followed by the assassination of Clytaemnestra by their son, Orestes, and the trial and subsequent vindication of Orestes. Often regarded as the father of tragedy, Aeschylus brought new elements to these plays, including trilogies, the use of a second actor, and a more cohesive chorus.