Mythology Exam

  • Cycle of Vendetta

    • The recurrence of revenge in Greek mythology, particularly within the Oresteia trilogy, highlights how ancestral sins perpetuate through generations.
    • Athena plays a pivotal role in stopping the cycle of vengeance.

  • Camthus and the Underworld

    • Camthus committed sins against the gods by either stealing divine food or serving his son Pilos to the gods.
    • Pilos was restored to life after the incident, reflecting themes of resurrection.
    • He is symbolically connected to his family's curse, showing the sins of the father impacting future generations.

  • Pelops' Backstory

    • Pelops was involved in a deadly chariot race against King Oenomaus for the hand of Hippodameia, driven by prophecy.
    • The race served a dual purpose: to marry and to avoid the king's death.
    • Pelops resorted to cheating, bribing Oenomaus’ charioteer, Myrtilus, to sabotage the race, leading to Oenomaus's death.
    • Myrtilus cursed Pelops before dying, ensuring the continuation of the family curse.

  • The House of Atreus

    • Pelops' sons, Atreus and Thyestes, represent the ongoing cycle of revenge within the family.
    • Atreus becomes king after murdering Thyestes’ children and serving them to him at dinner as revenge for seducing his wife.
    • Thyestes curses Atreus, further embedding the cycle of vengeance.

  • Agamemnon and the Trojan War

    • Agamemnon and Menelaus are the sons of Atreus.
    • Agamemnon sacrifices his daughter, Iphigenia, to ensure safe passage to Troy, causing ongoing discord with his wife, Clytemnestra.
    • Clytemnestra plots revenge against Agamemnon by taking a lover, Aegisthus, while he is away.

  • Oresteia Trilogy

    • The trilogy consists of:
    • Agamemnon: Describes Agamemnon's return and murder by Clytemnestra.
    • Libation Bearers: Focuses on the revenge by Orestes against Clytemnestra for his father's murder.
    • Eumenides: Depicts the trial of Orestes and the establishment of public justice led by Athena.
    • Key themes include the conflict and resolution of opposites, particularly between male and female characters.

  • Justice and Revenge

    • The trilogy emphasizes the transition from personal revenge to public justice.
    • Athena’s role is crucial as she invokes a new judicial system, resolving conflicts inherent in familial revenge.

  • Symbolism in Agamemnon's Homecoming

    • The use of red carpets represents blood and hubris; Agamemnon’s hesitation symbolizes his awareness of impending doom.
    • Cassandra’s foreknowledge of death emphasizes the tragic fate that underscores the narrative.
    • Aeschylus transforms the narrative to empower Clytemnestra as an active agent in Agamemnon’s murder.