# Orestes — The Eumenides character guide

> Orestes in The Eumenides by Aeschylus.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Orestes Pallas Athena, Orestes O Pallas

**First appearance:** 0001-the-eumenides

## Snapshot

A son who killed his mother at a god's command, now hunted across the world by the Furies and clinging to the one altar that might still shelter him.

## Who they are

Orestes arrives at Athens bloodstained and exhausted, a suppliant who has already been purified at Delphi yet remains unacquitted. His dilemma is that obedience to Apollo made him a matricide, and the Furies will not accept divine orders as an excuse. His long pursuit and his prayer at Athena's image force the play to ask whether a killer can ever be forgiven, and on what grounds.

## Relationships

### [Zeus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se/characters/zeus)

_professional_

Orestes appeals to Zeus for justice and protection, acting as a supplicant seeking divine intervention in his trial.

### [Mother Earth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se/characters/mother_earth)

_rivalry_

Mother Earth, through the Furies, opposes Orestes for the matricide he committed, representing ancient chthonic law against his actions.

### [Apollo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se/characters/apollo)

_friendship_

Apollo acts as Orestes' divine patron and defender, guiding and protecting him throughout his ordeal.

### [The Furies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se/characters/the_furies)

_rivalry_

Orestes is relentlessly hunted and tormented by the Furies for murdering his mother Clytemnestra.

### [Agamemnon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se/characters/agamemnon)

_family_

Agamemnon is Orestes' murdered father, whose death drives Orestes to seek vengeance and ultimately commit matricide.

### [The Eumenides](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se/characters/the_eumenides)

_friendship_

Orestes is reconciled with the Eumenides after their transformation, receiving their blessing and protection.

### [Zeus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se/characters/zeus)

_professional_

Orestes appeals to Zeus for justice and protection, acting as a supplicant seeking divine intervention in his trial.

### [The Furies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se/characters/the_furies)

_rivalry_

Orestes is relentlessly hunted and tormented by the Furies for murdering his mother Clytemnestra.

### [The Furies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se/characters/the_furies)

_rivalry_

Orestes is relentlessly hunted and tormented by the Furies for murdering his mother Clytemnestra.

### [The Eumenides](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se/characters/the_eumenides)

_friendship_

Orestes is reconciled with the Eumenides after their transformation, receiving their blessing and protection.

## In the story

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se/chapters/endnotes)

Discussed as the purified suppliant who flees to Athens and is acquitted in the trial.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se/characters/orestes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se/characters