Skip to content

The Oresteian Trilogy: Agamemnon; The Choephori; The Eumenides
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Oresteian Trilogy: Agamemnon; The Choephori; The Eumenides Paperback - 1956

by Aeschylus; Philip Vellacott (Translator); Introduction by Philip Vellacott


Summary

‘Anger still unreconciled
Poisoning a house’s life
With darkness, treachery and strife’ (47

Aeschylus (525–c.456 BC) set his great trilogy in the immediate aftermath of the Fall of Troy, when King Agamemnon returns to Argos, a victor in war. Agamemnon depicts the hero’s discovery that his family has been destroyed by his wife’s infidelity and ends with his death at her callous hand. Clytemnestra’s crime is repaid in The Choephori when her outraged son Orestes kills both her and her lover. The Eumenides then follows Orestes as he is hounded to Athens by the Furies’ law of vengeance and depicts Athene replacing the bloody cycle of revenge with a system of civil justice. Written in the years after the Battle of Marathon, The Oresteian Trilogy affirmed the deliverance of democratic Athens not only from Persian conquest, but also from its own barbaric past.

Philip Vellacott’s verse translation makes this eternal dramatic masterpiece accessible for the modern reader. In his introduction, he examines the historical context and the literary style of the plays.

From the publisher

The only surviving trilogy from ancient times - a story of murder, madness and justice Aeschylus (525-c.456 bc) set his great trilogy in the immediate aftermath of the Fall of Troy, when King Agamemnon returns to Argos, a victor in war. Agamemnon depicts the hero's discovery that his family has been destroyed by his wife's infidelity and ends with his death at her callous hand. Clytemnestra's crime is repaid in The Choephori when her outraged son Orestes kills both her and her lover. The Eumenides then follows Orestes as he is hounded to Athens by the Furies' law of vengeance and depicts Athene replacing the bloody cycle of revenge with a system of civil justice. Written in the years after the Battle of Marathon, The Oresteian Trilogy affirmed the deliverance of democratic Athens not only from Persian conquest, but also from its own barbaric past. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Details

  • Title The Oresteian Trilogy: Agamemnon; The Choephori; The Eumenides
  • Author Aeschylus; Philip Vellacott (Translator); Introduction by Philip Vellacott
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition [ Edition: repri
  • Pages 208
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Penguin Group, London
  • Date December 30, 1956
  • ISBN 9780140440676 / 0140440674
  • Weight 0.34 lbs (0.15 kg)
  • Dimensions 7.75 x 5.09 x 0.5 in (19.69 x 12.93 x 1.27 cm)
  • Ages 18 to UP years
  • Grade levels 13 - UP
  • Themes
    • Chronological Period: Ancient (To 499 A.D.)
    • Cultural Region: Greece
  • Library of Congress subjects Greek drama (Tragedy), Agamemnon (Greek mythology)
  • Dewey Decimal Code 882.01

About the author

Aeschylus was born of noble family near Athens in 525 BC. He took part in the Persian Wars, and his epitaph represents him as fighting at Marathon. He wrote more than seventy plays, of which only seven have survived. Philip Vellacott has translated Aeschylus and Euripides for the Penguin Classics. He taughts classics at Dulwich College for twenty-four years and lectured on Greek Drama in the USA. He was also a Visiting Lecturer in the University of California. He died in 1997.
Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

The Oresteian Trilogy: Agamemnon; The Choephori; The Eumenides (Penguin Classics)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Oresteian Trilogy: Agamemnon; The Choephori; The Eumenides (Penguin Classics)

by Aeschylus

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780140440676
ISBN 10
0140440674
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Frederick, Maryland, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$5.05
NZ$6.74 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Classics. Used - Good. Good condition. Writing inside and on edge.
Item Price
NZ$5.05
NZ$6.74 shipping to USA
The Oresteian Trilogy: Agamemnon; The Choephori; The Eumenides (Penguin Classics)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Oresteian Trilogy: Agamemnon; The Choephori; The Eumenides (Penguin Classics)

by Aeschylus

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780140440676
ISBN 10
0140440674
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Englewood, Colorado, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$5.91
NZ$6.74 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Classics, December 1956. Mass Market Paperback Mass Market Paperback. Acceptable. Creases to the spine with light edgewear to cover. Pages clean and unmarked. Pages tanning with age. All Orders Shipped With Tracking And Delivery Confirmation Numbers.
Item Price
NZ$5.91
NZ$6.74 shipping to USA
The Oresteian Trilogy: Agamemnon; The Choephori; The Eumenides (Penguin Classics)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Oresteian Trilogy: Agamemnon; The Choephori; The Eumenides (Penguin Classics)

by Aeschylus; Vellacott, Philip [Translator]; Vellacott, Philip [Introduction];

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780140440676
ISBN 10
0140440674
Quantity Available
3
Seller
Kingwood, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$8.78
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Classics, 1956-12-30. Paperback. Acceptable. 5x0x7.
Item Price
NZ$8.78
FREE shipping to USA
The Oresteian Trilogy: Agamemnon; The Choephori; The Eumenides (Penguin Classics)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Oresteian Trilogy: Agamemnon; The Choephori; The Eumenides (Penguin Classics)

by Aeschylus; Vellacott, Philip [Translator]; Vellacott, Philip [Introduction];

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780140440676
ISBN 10
0140440674
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Houston, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$8.78
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Classics, 1956-12-30. Paperback. Good. 81x8x123.
Item Price
NZ$8.78
FREE shipping to USA
The Oresteian Trilogy: Agamemnon; The Choephori; The Eumenides (Penguin Classics)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Oresteian Trilogy: Agamemnon; The Choephori; The Eumenides (Penguin Classics)

by Aeschylus; Vellacott, Philip [Translator]; Vellacott, Philip [Introduction];

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780140440676
ISBN 10
0140440674
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$8.80
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Classics, 1956-12-30. Paperback. Good. 5x0x7.
Item Price
NZ$8.80
FREE shipping to USA
The Oresteian Trilogy: Agamemnon; The Choephori; The Eumenides (Penguin Classics)

The Oresteian Trilogy: Agamemnon; The Choephori; The Eumenides (Penguin Classics)

by Aeschylus

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780140440676
ISBN 10
0140440674
Quantity Available
3
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$10.95
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Classics, 1956. Paperback. Acceptable. Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
NZ$10.95
FREE shipping to USA
The Oresteian Trilogy : Agamemnon; the Choephori; the Eumenides
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Oresteian Trilogy : Agamemnon; the Choephori; the Eumenides

by Aeschylus

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780140440676
ISBN 10
0140440674
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Reno, Nevada, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$11.69
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
NZ$11.69
FREE shipping to USA
The Oresteian Trilogy : Agamemnon; the Choephori; the Eumenides
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Oresteian Trilogy : Agamemnon; the Choephori; the Eumenides

by Aeschylus

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780140440676
ISBN 10
0140440674
Quantity Available
8
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$11.98
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
NZ$11.98
FREE shipping to USA
The Oresteian Trilogy : Agamemnon; the Choephori; the Eumenides
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Oresteian Trilogy : Agamemnon; the Choephori; the Eumenides

by Aeschylus

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780140440676
ISBN 10
0140440674
Quantity Available
3
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$11.98
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
NZ$11.98
FREE shipping to USA
The Oresteian Trilogy : Agamemnon; the Choephori; the Eumenides
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Oresteian Trilogy : Agamemnon; the Choephori; the Eumenides

by Aeschylus

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780140440676
ISBN 10
0140440674
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Reno, Nevada, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$11.98
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
NZ$11.98
FREE shipping to USA