"Eumenides" is a Greek tragedy written by Aeschylus, one of the three surviving plays of the Oresteia trilogy, which also includes "Agamemnon" and "The Libation Bearers." It was first performed in 458 BC. The play continues the story of the House of Atreus, focusing on the resolution of the curse that has plagued the family for generations. In "Eumenides," Orestes, the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, is pursued by the Furies, ancient goddesses of vengeance, for killing his mother Clytemnestra to avenge his father's murder. The central conflict revolves around Orestes being put on trial by Athena in Athens, where Apollo acts as his defense. The goddess Athena ultimately presides over the trial and votes in favor of Orestes, breaking a tie among the jurors. This decision transforms the Furies into the "Eumenides" or the "Kindly Ones," symbolizing a shift from vengeance to justice and mercy. The themes of justice, the conflict between old and new orders, and the resolution of blood feuds are central to "Eumenides," making it a significant work in the history of Western literature and drama.
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