Agamemnon: Being of th...

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Aeschylus

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Agamemnon: Being of the House of Atreus (Ορέστεια #1)

by Aeschylus, William-Alan Landes, S.H. Landes

3.86 of 5 stars 3.86 · rating details · 4,070 ratings · 57 reviews

Treating ancient plays as living drama. Classical Greek drama is brought vividly to life in this series of new translations. Students are encouraged to engage with the text through detailed commentaries, which include suggestions for discussion and analysis. In addition, numerous practical questions stimulate ideas on staging and encourage students to explore the play's dr

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Hardcover, 56 pages

Published September 1st 1995 by Players Press (first published -458)

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Jan 12, 2009 Tony rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: drama

Aeschylus. AGAMEMNON. (458B.C.). ***. I remember having to read this play – along with the other two in the trilogy, “The Libation Bearers,” and “The Eumenides” – as a freshman at college. I thought at the time (and still think so) that the play needed some lightening up; maybe some chorus girls in tights bursting in at some point. Of course there is already the chorus, but they don’t seem like the dancing type. The play starts after the end of the Trojan War, and all the men – at least those no...more Aeschylus. AGAMEMNON. (458B.C.). ***. I remember having to read this play – along with the other two in the trilogy, “The Libation Bearers,” and “The Eumenides” – as a freshman at college. I thought at the time (and still think so) that the play needed some lightening up; maybe some chorus girls in tights bursting in at some point. Of course there is already the chorus, but they don’t seem like the dancing type. The play starts after the end of the Trojan War, and all the men – at least those not killed on the ocean voyage back – are headed home. This includes Agamemnon, who hedged his bets by sacrificing his daughter, Iphigeneia to Artemis, the god. This assured that he and his men would prevail over Troy and get to return home. He was gone for ten years. His wife, Clytaemestra, got bored and took as a lover Aegisthus, the only surviving son of Thyestes. So now you have two pissed-off people waiting Agamemnon’s return. If you remember your Greek myths, Thyestes placed a curse on all the house of Atreus after Atreus tricked him into devouring his own children. Aegisthus was his only surviving son. Clytaemestra and Aegisthus knew of the return of Agamemnon through the use of cleverly placed beacons from Troy back to Argos. When he lands, in company with Cassandra – who continues to spout predictions of doom – he is met and escorted into the palace walking on carpets thrown down by slaves. Outside, Cassandra is trying to tell the chorus that some mean things are about to happen inside, but the chorus has its doubts. Suddenly Clytaemestra runs out of the palace declaring that she has killed the king by stabbing him three times. Then Aegisthus comes out and declares that he, too, is avenged for the death of his siblings. There is lots of grumbling by the chorus, but they are finally urged to disperse and put away their swords because things are what they are. At the end, Porky Pig comes out and says (with a preliminary stutter), “That’s All Folks.” This is essential reading, but you’d better have a reference book at hand in order to understand all the events leading up to this story.(less)

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Apr 15, 2013 Emily Duncan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, review-books

Το κόσμημα του Αισχύλου.
Το πρώτο μέρος της μοναδικής σωζόμενης τριλογίας της αρχαίας ελληνικής λογοτεχνίας και ίσως το καλύτερο.
Πρόκειται για ένα έργο σκοτεινό, με γρήγορη εξέλιξη, με το άρωμα του θανάτου να πλανάται στην ατμόσφαιρα από τις πρώτες κιόλας λέξεις του φύλακα.
Ο Αγαμέμνων, η Κλυταιμνήστρα, ο εραστής Αίγισθος και η Κασσάνδρα λάφυρο του νικητή κυριαρχούν στη σκηνή και ζωντανεύουν μέσα από τις παραστατικές εικόνες του Αισχύλου.
Η πορεία του θριαμβευτή στρατηγού προς τον θάνατο μοιάζει α...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Mikael rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Let’s call this a sequel to The Iliad, because it is, dealing with the occurrences preceding and following King Agamemnon’s return home to Argos after the sacking of Troy. Since the play is labeled as a tragedy, it’s hardly a spoiler when I reveal that he does not get to enjoy his victory for very long. It’s of course a rather populist choice of subject matter on Aeschylus’ part, considering the familiarity of these characters and events to the audiences of the time.

Agamemnon is a fairly typical...more

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Jul 06, 2010 Rob added it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, literature, read-in-2010

Too old to rate, but I have to say that this is markedly more accessible than Homer's work, which was my only previous experience to ancient Greek literature. Maybe it's just the translation, but there's a lot more poetry and a lot more concern with human problems instead of godly ones. Make no mistake, the gods are a heavy presence and are as capricious as ever, but unlike in Homer the focus is on the complex ways the humans deal with them.

This play essentially takes place in the margins of gre...more

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Feb 09, 2012 Staci rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: do-not-own

This is the first play in a trilogy. That is important to know because the play ends really abruptly; it's easy to expect another scene or act at the end of the play because it feels so unfinished. This is a Greek tragedy so the language style might be really unfamiliar and unaccessible to most modern readers. It's hard to know who is being spoken about at any moment; the simplest confusions involve royalty talking about themselves in the plural ("we" when they mean "I") and choruses talking abo...more

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Dec 09, 2012 Syahira Sharif rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Agamemnon is one of the Oresteian trilogy that followed the story of Agamemnon's homecoming from the Trojan Wars and the subsequent tragedy that lead from his unfaithful wife, Clytemnestra. This play of Agamemnon concentrates on Clytemnestra, the comparison with Odysseus's wife, Penelope and the details of Agamemnon that lead to his foretold demise.

Since I only read the first part of the series, I do say this book is my least favorite Greek mythology due to the obvious regression of Clytemnestra...more

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Nov 22, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classical, read-in-english-translation, plays

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 02, 2012 David Sarkies rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: tragedy

This is the first part of the only Greek trilogy that we have and is set after the Trojan War in the city of Argos, of which Agamemnon is the ruler. Agamemnon's wife learns of the defeat of the Trojans and the imminent return of her husband through the use of a series of beacons. However while she is eagerly awaiting her husband's return, it is different from Penelope, who remained faithful to her husband for the twenty years he was away. Instead, while Agamemnon was away, she took a lover, Aeg...more This is the first part of the only Greek trilogy that we have and is set after the Trojan War in the city of Argos, of which Agamemnon is the ruler. Agamemnon's wife learns of the defeat of the Trojans and the imminent return of her husband through the use of a series of beacons. However while she is eagerly awaiting her husband's return, it is different from Penelope, who remained faithful to her husband for the twenty years he was away. Instead, while Agamemnon was away, she took a lover, Aegisthus, and is plotting her revenge for the murder of her daughter at Aulis.
There is a lot of background to this play, but that is not uncommon for Greek drama in that they are set in a complex historical past that has a lot of events that all tie in together, but also lead out to lots of other events. This is probably why the trilogy was so popular in that it enabled the playwright to look out to the events that arose in the play (and also that Greek plays tend to be quite short).
Agamemnon is a man with a lot of enemies, but then that is to be expected in relation to a man that has set himself up as overlord of Greece. However, his father had tricked Aegisthus' father, Thyestes, into eating his children, but Aegisthus managed to escape, and by allowing Clytemnestra to take him as her lover puts him in the best position to extract his revenge. However, Clytemnestra did not need much encouraging to murder Agamemnon, as prior to the war, he scarificed his daughter, Iphagenia, so that the war would be successful. This is going to upset most mothers, though to add insult to injury, he brought Cassandra back as his prize, so he effectively arrives in Argos to face an angry wife with a woman that he picked up to take her place when she was not around. However, it is clear that Clytemnestra's actions were not looked down upon all that well. While revenge is acceptable to the Greeks, it does not seem to be the case where it is the woman seeking revenge.
As with a lot of Aeschylus' plays, it seems to be very little on the action, and a lot on the storytelling. While Clytaemnestra does appear at the beginning of the play, it is not until a quarter of the way through that she first speaks. In fact, most of the major characters only appear for a short time. The only major character that is on the stage for an extended period of time is Cassandra, and she is trying to warn the Chorus of what is to come, as due to her curse, nobody is believing her. It seems that a majority of the play actually revolves around Cassandra and her prophecies, and also the curse that has been placed upon her to be able to predict the future, but never listened to. In fact, she is treated like the barbarian that she is.
Clytaemnestra and Penelope are two contrasting women in Greek mythology. Penelope is seen as the epitome of female honour however Clytaemnestra is portrayed as the complete opposite. Penelope waits patiently for her husband to return, and uses every trick that she can think of to outwit the suitors who are eating her out of house and home. Throughout all that time she rebukes the advances of all of the man that come, and also resists the social pressure that she is under to remarry. Clytaemenstra is the opposite as she is a very proud and hot headed individual who is seeking revenge against her father. She takes a lover, and then lays a trap for her husband for when she returns.
The play concludes with the idea that Argos has now become a tyranny. This is odd because it never was anything other than a tyranny. Agamemnon is actually not a very nice guy. The best portrayal of him would have been in the movie Troy, where he is portrayed and a vicious imperialist who is looking for any excuse to expand his power. We don't see that here, but rather see a man who has returned from ten years of war to find his house not only in shambles but also turned against him. In a way, this play is another example of returning from war and the difficulties of returning to one's previous life. I suspect that there are a lot of soldiers out there that could sympathise with the plight of Agamemnon, though these days, with much better communication systems, the breakdown of the family unit due to war is evident much sooner, but happens all too often.(less)

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Aug 02, 2011 Scot Quaranda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is part one of a three part series. It is classic Greek literature at its finest. It contains all of the elements you would expect fate, murder, intrigue, drama and suspense. This particular installment comes at the end of the Trojan War as Agamemnon is returning home. What lies in wait is seemingly beyond his ability to comprehend, especially after being away at war for ten years. Old injustices must be paid for and though not all were at Agamemnon's hands, he represents the blood line and...more

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Apr 19, 2007 علی rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: tragedies

آشیل یا آخیلوس اهل آتن بوده و گویا در جنگ "ماراتن"(بین پارس و یونان) شرکت داشته و حدود 450 سال پیش از میلاد فوت کرده. گفته می شود که بر سنگ قبرش نوشته اند؛ "آخیلوس اهل آتن، زیر این سنگ خفته. خاک مقدس ماراتن و سربازان بلند گیسوی ماد(پارس) که طعم دلاوری او را چشیده اند، بر جنگ آوری او شهادت می دهند". او اولین تراژدی نویس مشهور یونانی ست که تنها شش هفت تایی از حدود صد اثرش باقی مانده. از این میان "پرومته در زنجیر" مشهورترین آنهاست و البته "پارسی ها" نیز در ایران شهرت دارد اگرچه نسبت به کارهای دیگرش...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Allison rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, autodidact, project-gutenburg

This edition is readable (not always true of translations) and is interesting from a historical perspective as it appears the translator spent some time thinking about the sack of Troy in relation to WWI. This is reflected in several of the notes. I don't agree with all of his added stage directions but they are helpful in keeping track of what's happening, as are the comments in the choral odes. Helpful endnotes as well. (Project Gutenburg edition)

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May 10, 2011 Chris Schaeffer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

So in late 2010 I, for some reason, began to reread each part of the Orestaia, seperately, with intervals of months between them. This was kind of dumb and pointless, but it did stress to me how well each part functions autonomously, and how distinct each part really is. I think that, having done that, I can say 'Agamemnon' is my favorite of the three. It has the most sophisticated pathos and the most developed sense of dread and inevitability.

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Jan 31, 2010 Elliott rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Best Greek play I have read so far. Excellent use of the Greek chorus (better than I've seen in any other Greek play). The symbolism is precise and well written/used.

I think this book should be taught for Women's Literature classes because of the interesting roles of Cassandra and Clytaemestra. Each in their own are complex characters that steal the play.

Definitely a must read of Greek literature.

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Mar 26, 2013 Heidi'sbooks rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Tragic. Beautifully poetic. This translation by Gilbert Murray was translated into rhyming verse. It was much more like poetry than drama.

The plot is tragic with themes focusing on revenge, murder, betrayal. The story takes place immediately after the Battle of Troy.

This is the first Greek play I've ever read.

The 5 stars is in great part because of the beautiful poetry.

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Dec 02, 2012 Kate added it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012, greek-lit

This was the hardest time I've had getting into an ancient Greek work (I've read two other tragedies and the Iliad). I don't know if I was just more tired or if the writing is more confusing (although I've read Electra, the sequel to Agamemnon, so you would think it would be the same writing style), but it wasn't until about halfway that I really started to understand/care.

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Feb 27, 2009 Eddie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 20, 2013 Naomi Flores rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I had to read this for my Study Abroad English class, and I really enjoyed it. It was very easy to read once I got into it, and I think it is worth the read, even if you don't like Greek tragedy. The Chorus can be quite lengthy, but they give a lot of the detail, so make sure to read them.

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Jul 26, 2011 Kristin added it · review of another edition

Shelves: theater

didn't read *this* translation. thought it would be more drawn out & painful (a la epic poetry) but i was actually kind of disappointed with the late point of attack, which left so much of the story as exposition, and so little for the actual action of the play.

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Jun 23, 2011 Julie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

For some odd reason I didn't know this was a Greek play. It was short, and not terribly entertaining unless you're a big fan of ancient Greek theater, but I must say that there was definite poetry and flow to the lines that made them read nicely.

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Mar 12, 2010 Alex rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: its-all-greek-to-me

Definitely the least memorable Greek play of my "I should read some Greek plays" streak (a few months ago.) After awhile, they all start to run together BUT, as I recall, I did enjoy it at the time.

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Jan 31, 2010 Sharon rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: at-cal

An interesting introduction to Greek tragedy. I had read some Aeschylus freshman year, but this was a more in-depth look at the components of the play in Greece.

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Jan 21, 2010 Deanna rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: greek

Another great Greek play. I'm going to run out one day and then I will be sad. I guess I'll just start rereading them.

In this play Agamemnon is coming home after the triumph over Priam and company. And he's coming straight home into the arms of his seemingly loving wife. He doesn't come alone though and his young spoil of war is also a fortune teller. She lets us know that she and Agamemnon will soon meet death by the charming wife. And thus ends the life of Agamemnon. But why did she kill him?...more

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Jan 16, 2012 Ariel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-2012, school-year-2011

Wow. This play was mastery. The foreboding and the ill-intent and the tragic nature of it all was oh so artfully executed.

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Jan 25, 2011 Steve rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, plays

A story of revenge, a Greek tragedy and part of the trilogy telling of the end of the curse on the house of Atreus. Agamemnon, returning from the Trojan war is murdered by his wife who has been planning vengeance for his sacrifice of their daughter to the gods to begin the journey to Troy along with Aegisthus, a dispossessed cousin of the king. This play also contains one of the more interesting cursed gifts: Cassandra, princess of Troy, priestess of Apollo, and Agamemnon's slave and concubine i...more

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Sep 19, 2009 Darshan Elena rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Not all compelling and mysterious as Sophocles, but a great summer read for some exploring the classics! A good read!

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Nov 12, 2012 Julia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed the figure of Clytaemestra. I may have a new literary female icon to worship and emulate here.

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Jun 14, 2012 David Spencer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Orestia is absolutely the most shining example of ancient Greek tragedy. Can't recommend it enough.

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Feb 23, 2013 Erin added it · review of another edition

Shelves: high-school

Since I read this so long ago, I don't remember it well enough to give it a rating at this time.

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Oct 11, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don't know why I enjoy Aeschylus and not Shakespeare. The styles seem similar to me.

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Sep 17, 2012 Jodi rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012

As with all Greek tragedy, there is too much talking and not enough of anything else.

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About Aeschylus

Aeschylus (525 BC – 456 BC) was an ancient Greek playwright. He is often recognized as the father or the founder of tragedy, and is the earliest of the three Greek tragedians whose plays survive extant, the others being Sophocles and Euripides. According to Aristotle, he expanded the number of characters in plays to allow for conflict among them; previously, characters interacted only with the cho...more Aeschylus (525 BC – 456 BC) was an ancient Greek playwright. He is often recognized as the father or the founder of tragedy, and is the earliest of the three Greek tragedians whose plays survive extant, the others being Sophocles and Euripides. According to Aristotle, he expanded the number of characters in plays to allow for conflict among them; previously, characters interacted only with the chorus. Unfortunately, only seven of an estimated 70 plays by Aeschylus have survived into modern times; one of these plays, Prometheus Bound, is sometimes thought not to be the work of Aeschylus.

At least one of Aeschylus' works was influenced by the Persian invasion of Greece, which took place during his lifetime. His play The Persians remains a good primary source of information about this period in Greek history. The war was so important to Greeks and to Aeschylus himself that, upon his death around 456 BC, his epitaph included a reference to his participation in the Greek victory at Marathon but not to his success as a playwright.

There are no reliable sources for the life of Aeschylus. He was said to have been born in c. 525 in Eleusis, a small town about 27 kilometers northwest of Athens, which is nestled in the fertile valleys of western Attica, though the date is most likely based on counting back forty years from his first victory in the Great Dionysia. His family was both wealthy and well-established; his father Euphorion was a member of the Eupatridae, the ancient nobility of Attica. As a youth, he worked at a vineyard until, according to the 2nd-century AD geographer Pausanias, the god Dionysus visited him in his sleep and commanded him to turn his attention to the nascent art of tragedy. As soon as he woke from the dream, the young Aeschylus began writing a tragedy, and his first performance took place in 499 BC, when he was only 26 years old. After fifteen years, his skill was great enough to win a prize for his plays at Athens' annual city Dionysia playwriting competition. But in the interim, his dramatic career was interrupted by war. The armies of the Persian Empire, which had already conquered the Greek city-states of Ionia, entered mainland Greece in the hopes of conquering it as well.

In 490 BC, Aeschylus and his brother Cynegeirus fought to defend Athens against Darius's invading Persian army at the Battle of Marathon. The Athenians, though outnumbered, encircled and slaughtered the Persian army. This pivotal defeat ended the first Persian invasion of Greece proper and was celebrated across the city-states of Greece. Though Athens was victorious, Cynegeirus died in the battle. Aeschylus continued to write plays during the lull between the first and second Persian invasions of Greece, and won his first victory at the city Dionysia in 484 BC. In 480 he was called into military service again, this time against Xerxes' invading forces at the Battle of Salamis. This naval battle holds a prominent place in The Persians, his oldest surviving play, which was performed in 472 BC and won first prize at the Dionysia.

Aeschylus was one of many Greeks who had been initiated into the Eleusinian Mysteries, a cult to Demeter based in his hometown of Eleusis. As the name implies, members of the cult were supposed to have gained some sort of mystical, secret knowledge. Firm details of the Mysteries' specific rites are sparse, as members were sworn under the penalty of death not to reveal anything about the Mysteries to non-initiates. Nevertheless, according to Aristotle it was alleged that Aeschylus had placed clues about the secret rites in his seventh tragedy, Prometheus Bound. According to some sources, an angry mob tried to kill Aeschylus on the spot, but he fled the scene. When he stood trial for his offense, Aeschylus pleaded ignorance and was only spared because of his brave service in the Persian Wars.

Aeschylus traveled to Sicily once or twice in the 470s BC, having been invited by Hieron, tyrant of Syracuse(less)

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Books by Aeschylus

The Oresteia: Agamemnon / The Libation Bearers / The Eumenides

Agamemnon, Prometheus Bound, Oedipus the King, Antigone & Hippolytus (Greek Tragedies, Volume 1)

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