The Eumenides

by

Aeschylus

The Eumenides Symbols

Blood

In The Eumenides, blood is essentially synonymous with guilt. This connection makes itself clear from the very first scene of the play, when a terrified Pythia describes Orestes, drenched in blood, waiting at…

read analysis of Blood

Urns

When it comes time for Orestes’ trial, the citizens of Athens cast their ballots into urns in order to determine Orestes’ guilt or innocence. These urns, which ensure anonymous voting, are symbols of justice and…

read analysis of Urns

The Navelstone

Thought to be a stone that Zeus had used to mark the center of the Earth, the Navelstone was a religious relic kept at Delphi, and the Greeks considered it enormously sacred. Apollo allows Orestes

read analysis of The Navelstone

The Stone of Outrage

Athena places Orestes at this stone during the trial in order to emblemize how wronged he has been by the unrelenting Furies.

read analysis of The Stone of Outrage

The Stone of Unmercifulness

Athena has the Furies stand by this stone in order to symbolize their tenacity, and their refusal to stray from their vengeful task.

read analysis of The Stone of Unmercifulness

Get the entire The Eumenides LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Eumenides PDF