Eumenides

In the third part of Aeschylus’ trilogy, Orestes finds himself at the Delphi oracle, pleading with Apollo to help him escape the Furies, who have been following him ever since Orestes murdered his mother. The god urges him to leave while the Furies are asleep and to seek refuge in Athens. Clytemnestra’s ghost appears in the temple, asking for retribution. The Furies are banished from Apollo’s temple and chase Orestes all the way to Athens, whereupon they find him as a suppliant at the statue of Athena. The goddess appears and demands she hear both sides: the prosecuting Furies and the defendant Orestes. Given the complexity of the case, Athena calls for a special court to decide on Orestes’ fate. Thus, she establishes the court of Areopagus for the citizens of Athens. In the ensuing trial, Apollo defends Orestes and Athena’s tie-breaking vote absolves Orestes, an act that is both tantamount to the foundation of both democracy and patriarchy. The Furies are ultimately appeased and transformed into Eumenides, “the kindly ones.”

Based on the myth of the Eumenides, the performance will be held at the Ancient Stadium of Epidaurus, with the purpose of making the story echo throughout the landscape. The audience will be engulfed by the performance, experiencing the authenticity of this ancient Greek myth and the proper environment that brought this tale to life. At 6.00 p.m., at the Ancient Stadium, the landscape emerges at its purest, transporting us all inside its dark, moving energy.

Undertaking this play is an actress and a musician; a difficult project but a worthy one. All the characters come to life through the collaboration of talented acting and the lively music that serenades each action and mood. Language, sound, time, and landscape jointly make up a transformative experience.