Lexis

Poetica, retorica e comunicazione nella tradizione classica

On Crimes and Punishments of a Matricide

Oreste Between φόνος ἑκούσιος and φόνος δίκαιος

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Abstract

In this paper I analyse some different mythical narratives about the trial of Orestes after the matricide. Aeschylus’ Eumenides (458 B.C.E.) have canonised a single version of the myth, based on the judgement at the Areopagus Council and on the hero’s acquittal through Athena’s vote. As a matter of fact, other versions exist in and outside of Athens about the hero on trial (i.e. Eur. Or., El.; Theodectes Phas. fr. 5 Snell; Dem. 23.74), which reveal alternative assessments of Orestes’ vengeance act.


Open access | Peer reviewed

Submitted: Sept. 2, 2023 | Accepted: Jan. 27, 2024 | Published July 3, 2024 | Language: it

Keywords Aeschylus • φόνος δίκαιος • Trial • Demosthenes • Areopagus • Orestes • φόνος ἐκ προνοίας • Athens • Theodectes Phaselis

Copyright © 2024 Luca Pucci. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

Permalink http://doi.org/10.30687/Lexis/2724-1564/2024/01/004