The Eumenides · Character

The Furies

Ancient avengers who track a matricide by the scent of blood, older than the Olympians and answerable to no argument but the deed itself.

major

Also known as the Erinyes, Erinyes, Some Furies, The Erinyes

First appearance: the eumenides

As a major figure in The Eumenides, The Furies is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Analyzed as representatives of matriarchal society and blind law, later transformed into the Eumenides.

In the storyEndnotesOpen this moment free

See The Furies in Endnotes Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

The Erinyes are the hunters of the guilty, feared by ordinary gods and mortals yet cherished by Night and the wronged dead. Their rule is simple: the doer must suffer, and no plea of justification or intention can move…

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of The Furies sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See The Furies in the eumenides

Character Web

10 connections

A slice of how The Furies sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Rivalry
Family
Psychological

Character groups

Vengeance and Justice Cycle
Protagonist

+5 more in the full Character Web

Open in reader

Relationships

Zeus
rivalry · negative
The Furies are in conflict with Zeus over the primacy of ancient blood law versus his new… How this plays out →
Orestes
rivalry · negative
Apollo
rivalry · negative
Clytemnestra
friendship · positive
Mother Earth
family · positive
The Eumenides
psychological · ambivalent
Orestes
rivalry · negative
Orestes
rivalry · negative
Mother Earth
family · positive
The Eumenides
psychological · ambivalent

Zeus
The Furies are in conflict with Zeus over the primacy of ancient blood law versus his new Olympian order of justice.
Orestes
Orestes is relentlessly hunted and tormented by the Furies for murdering his mother Clytemnestra.
Apollo
Apollo directly opposes the Furies, defending Orestes and championing the new order of justice over their ancient vengeance.
Clytemnestra
Clytemnestra's ghost rouses the Furies to avenge her murder, making them her allies in the pursuit of blood justice.
Mother Earth
Mother Earth is the primordial parent of the Furies, who are born from her blood and serve her ancient laws.
The Eumenides
The Eumenides are the transformed, benevolent aspect of the Furies, representing their psychological and spiritual evolution from vengeance to justice.
Orestes
Orestes is relentlessly hunted and tormented by the Furies for murdering his mother Clytemnestra.
Orestes
Orestes is relentlessly hunted and tormented by the Furies for murdering his mother Clytemnestra.
Mother Earth
Mother Earth is the primordial parent of the Furies, who are born from her blood and serve her ancient laws.
The Eumenides
The Eumenides are the transformed, benevolent aspect of the Furies, representing their psychological and spiritual evolution from vengeance to justice.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See The Furies in the eumenides

In the story

The Furies appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Endnotes

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for The Furies unlock in the free preview.

See The Furies in the eumenides

See The Furies in Endnotes