CMS 231/ History 231

Litigation in Ancient Athens

 Week 8 Class 2 Lecture



Greek Tragedy: Aeschylus:
  • born 532 bce died 456 bce (in Sicily, where he spent a lot of his life)
  • from an aristocratic family (Eupatridae) but associated withe Pericles' efforts to expand democracy
  • fought as a soldier at Marathon and Salamis against Persians
  • tradition says that the epithet he wrote for his tomb simply noted that he had been a soldier for Athens and didn't even mention the fact that he had been a highly successful playwright
  • He's credited with introducting a second actor to the stage [Sophocles with adding a third]
  • His poetic language is extraordinarily dense, difficult, compelling, majestic

  • Oresteia:


    Agamemnon - The first chorus
     
     
    Ten livelong years have rolled away, 
    Since the twin lords of sceptred sway,
    By Zeus endowed with pride of place, 
    The doughty chiefs of Atreus' race, 
    Went forth of yore, 
     To plead with Priam, face to face, 
     Before the judgment-seat of War! 

                                           A thousand ships from Argive land 
    Put forth to bear the martial band, 
    That with a spirit stern and strong 
    Went out to right the kingdom's wrong- 
    Pealed, as they went, the battle-song, 
    Wild as the vultures' cry; 
    When o'er the eyrie, soaring high, 
    In wild bereaved agony, 
    Around, around, in airy rings, 
    They wheel with oarage of their wings, 
    But not the eyas-brood behold, 
    That called them to the nest of old; 
    But let Apollo from the sky, 
    Or Pan, or Zeus, but hear the cry, 
    The exile cry, the wail forlorn, 
    Of birds from whom their home is torn- 
    On those who wrought the rapine fell, 

    Heaven sends the vengeful fiends of hell. 
    Even so doth Zeus, the jealous lord 
    And guardian of the hearth and board
    Speed Atreus' sons, in vengeful ire, 
    'Gainst Paris-sends them forth on fire, 
    Her to buy back, in war and blood, 
    Whom one did wed but many woo'd! 
    And many, many, by his will, 
    The last embrace of foes shall feel, 
    And many a knee in dust be bowed, 
    And splintered spears on shields ring 
       loud, 
    Of Trojan and of Greek, before 
    That iron bridal-feast be o'er! 
    But as he willed 'tis ordered all, 
    And woes, by heaven ordained, must fall- 
    Unsoothed by tears or spilth of wine 
    Poured forth too late, the wrath divine 
    Glares vengeance on the flameless shrine. 

    And we in grey dishonoured eld, 
    Feeble of frame, unfit were held 
    To join the warrior array 
    That then went forth unto the fray: 
    And here at home we tarry, fain 
    Our feeble footsteps to sustain, 
    Each on his staff-so strength doth wane
    And turns to childishness again. 
    For while the sap of youth is green, 
    And, yet unripened, leaps within, 
    The young are weakly as the old, 
    And each alike unmeet to hold 
    The vantage post of war! 
    And ah! when flower and fruit are o'er, 
    And on life's tree the leaves are sere, 
    Age wendeth propped its journey drear, 
    As forceless as a child, as light 
    And fleeting as a dream of night 
    Lost in the garish day! 

    But thou, O child of Tyndareus, 
    Queen Clytemnestra, speak! and say 
    What messenger of joy to-day 
    Hath won thine ear? what welcome 
       news, 
    That thus in sacrificial wise 
    E'en to the city's boundaries 
    Thou biddest altar-fires arise
    Each god who doth our city guard, 
    And keeps o'er Argos watch and ward 
    From heaven above, from earth below- 
    The mighty lords who rule the skies, 
    The market's lesser deities, 
    To each and all the altars glow, 
    Piled for the sacrifice! 
    And here and there, anear, afar, 
    Streams skyward many a beacon-star, 
    Conjur'd and charm'd and kindled well 
    By pure oil's soft and guileless spell, 
    Hid now no more 
    Within the palace' secret store. 

    O queen, we pray thee, whatsoe'er, 
    Known unto thee, were well revealed, 
    That thou wilt trust it to our ear, 
    And bid our anxious heart be healed! 
    That waneth now unto despair- 
    Now, waxing to a presage fair, 
    Dawns, from the altar, to scare 
    From our rent hearts the vulture Care. 

    strophe 1

    List! for the power is mine, to chant on 
       high 
    The chiefs' emprise, the strength that 
       omens gave! 
    List! on my soul breathes yet a harmony, 
    From realms of ageless powers, and 
       strong to save! 

    How brother kings, twin lords of one 
       command, 
    Led forth the youth of Hellas in their 
       flower, 
    Urged on their way, with vengeful spear 
       and brand, 
    By warrior-birds, that watched the parting 
       hour. 

    Go forth to Troy, the eagles seemed to 
       cry- 
    And the sea-kings obeyed the sky-kings' 
       word, 
    When on the right they soared across the 
       sky, 
    And one was black, one bore a white tail 
       barred. 

    High o'er the palace were they seen to 
       soar, 
    Then lit in sight of all, and rent and tare, 
    Far from the fields that she should range 
       no more, 
    Big with her unborn brood, a 
       mother-hare. 

    Ah woe and well-a-day! but be the issue 
       fair! 

    antistrophe 1

    And one beheld, the soldier-prophet true, 
    And the two chiefs, unlike of soul and 
       will, 
    In the twy-coloured eagles straight he 
       knew, 
    And spake the omen forth, for good and 
       in. 

    Go forth, he cried, and Priam's town shall 
       fall. 
    Yet long the time shall be; and flock and 
       herd, 
    The people's wealth, that roam before the 
       wall, 
    Shall force hew down, when Fate shall 
       give the word, 

    But O beware! lest wrath in Heaven 
       abide, 
    To dim the glowing battle-forge once 
       more, 
    And mar the mighty curb of Trojan pride, 
    The steel of vengeance, welded as for 
       war! 

    For virgin Artemis bears jealous hate 
    Against the royal house, the eagle-pair, 
    Who rend the unborn brood, insatiate- 
    Yea, loathes their banquet on the 
       quivering hare. 

    Ah woe and well-a-day! but be the issue 
       fair! 

    epode

    For well she loves-the goddess kind and 
       mild- 
    The tender new-born cubs of lions bold, 
    Too weak to range-and well the sucking 
       child 
    Of every beast that roams by wood and 
       wold. 

    So to the Lord of Heaven she prayeth 
       still, 
    "Nay, if it must be, be the omen true! 
    Yet do the visioned eagles presage ill; 
    The end be well, but crossed with evil 
       too!" 

    Healer Apollo! be her wrath controll'd 
    Nor weave the long delay of thwarting 
       gales, 
    To war against the Danaans and withhold 
    From the free ocean-waves their eager 
       sails! 

    She craves, alas! to see a second life 
    Shed forth, a curst unhallowed sacrifice-
    'Twixt wedded souls, artificer of strife, 
    And hate that knows not fear, and fell 
       device. 

    At home there tarries like a lurking 
       snake
    Biding its time, a wrath unreconciled, 
    A wily watcher, passionate to slake, 
    In blood, resentment for a murdered 
       child. 

    Such was the mighty warning, pealed of 
       yore- 
    Amid good tidings, such the word of fear, 
    What time the fateful eagles hovered o'er 
    The kings, and Calchas read the omen 
       clear. 

    In strains like his, once more, 
    Sing woe and well-a-day! but be the issue 
       fair! 
     

     

    strophe 2

    Zeus-if to The Unknown 
    That name of many names seem good- 
    Zeus, upon Thee I call. 
    Thro' the mind's every road 
    I passed, but vain are all, 
    Save that which names thee Zeus, the 
       Highest One, 
    Were it but mine to cast away the load, 
    The weary load, that weighs my spirit 
       down. 

    antistrophe 2

    He that was Lord of old, 
    In full-blown pride of place and valour 
       bold, 
    Hath fallen and is gone, even as an old tale 
       told: 
    And he that next held sway, 
    By stronger grasp o'erthrown 
    Hath pass'd away! 
    And whoso now shall bid the 
       triumph-chant arise 
    To Zeus, and Zeus alone, 
    He shall be found the truly wise. 

    strophe 3

    'Tis Zeus alone who shows the perfect 
       way 
    Of knowledge: He hath ruled, 
    Men shall learn wisdom, by affliction 
       schooled. 

    In visions of the night, like dropping rain, 
    Descend the many memories of pain 
    Before the spirit's sight: through tears and 
       dole 
    Comes wisdom o'er the unwilling soul- 
    A boon, I wot, of all Divinity, 
    That holds its sacred throne in strength, 
       above the sky!
     

    antistrophe 3
     

        And then the elder chief, at whose
           command 
        The fleet of Greece was manned, 
        Cast on the seer no word of hate, 
        But veered before the sudden breath of 
           Fate- 

        Ah, weary while! for, ere they put forth 
           sail, 
        Did every store, each minish'd vessel, fail, 
        While all the Achaean host 
        At Aulis anchored lay, 
        Looking across to Chalcis and the coast 
        Where refluent waters welter, rock, and 
           sway; 

        strophe 4

        And rife with ill delay 
        From northern Strymon blew the 
           thwarting blast- 
        Mother of famine fell, 
        That holds men wand'ring still 
        Far from the haven where they fain 
           would be!- 
        And pitiless did waste 
        Each ship and cable, rotting on the sea, 
        And, doubling with delay each weary 
           hour, 
        Withered with hope deferred th' 
           Achaeans' warlike flower. 

        But when, for bitter storm, a deadlier 
           relief, 
        And heavier with ill to either chief, 
        Pleading the ire of Artemis, the seer 
           avowed, 
        The two Atreidae smote their sceptres on 
           the plain, 
        And, striving hard, could not their tears 
           restrain! 

        antistrophe 4

        And then the elder monarch spake aloud- 
        Ill lot were mine, to disobey! 
        And ill, to smite my child, my household's 
           love and pride! 
        To stain with virgin blood a father's 
           hands, and slay 
        My daughter, by the altar's side! 
        'Twixt woe and woe I dwell- 
        I dare not like a recreant fly, 
        And leave the league of ships, and fail 
           each true ally; 
        For rightfully they crave, with eager fiery 
           mind, 
        The virgin's blood, shed forth to lull the 
           adverse wind- 
        God send the deed be well! 

        strophe 5

        Thus on his neck he took 
        Fate's hard compelling yoke; 
        Then, in the counter-gale of will abhorr'd, 
           accursed, 
        To recklessness his shifting spirit veered- 
        Alas! that Frenzy, first of ills and worst, 
        With evil craft men's souls to sin hath ever 
           stirred! 

        And so he steeled his heart-ah, 
           well-a-day- 
        Aiding a war for one false woman's sake, 
        His child to slay, 
        And with her spilt blood make 
        An offering, to speed the ships upon their 
           way! 

        antistrophe 5

        Lusting for war, the bloody arbiters 
        Closed heart and ears, and would nor 
           hear nor heed 
        The girl-voice plead, 
        Pity me, Father! nor her prayers, 
        Nor tender, virgin years. 
        So, when the chant of sacrifice was done, 
        Her father bade the youthful priestly 
           train 
        Raise her, like some poor kid, above the 
           altar-stone, 
        From where amid her robes she lay 
        Sunk all in swoon away- 
        Bade them, as with the bit that mutely 
           tames the steed, 
        Her fair lips' speech refrain, 
        Lest she should speak a curse on Atreus' 
           home and seed, 

        strophe 6

        So, trailing on the earth her robe of 
           saffron dye, 
        With one last piteous dart from her 
           beseeching eye. 
        Those that should smite she smote 
        Fair, silent, as a pictur'd form, but fain 
        To plead, Is all forgot? 
        How oft those halls of old, 
        Wherein my sire high feast did hold, 
        Rang to the virginal soft strain, 
        When I, a stainless child, 
        Sang from pure lips and undefiled, 
        Sang of my sire, and all 
        His honoured life, and how on him should 
           fall 
        Heaven's highest gift and gain! 

        antistrophe 6

        And then-but I beheld not, nor can tell, 
        What further fate befell: 
        But this is sure, that Calchas' boding 
           strain 
        Can ne'er be void or vain. 
        This wage from justice' hand do sufferers 
           earn, 
        The future to discern: 
        And yet-farewell, O secret of To-morrow! 
        Fore-knowledge is fore-sorrow. 
        Clear with the clear beams of the 
           morrow's sun, 
        The future presseth on. 
        Now, let the house's tale, how dark 
           soe'er, 
        Find yet an issue fair!- 
        So prays the loyal, solitary band 
        That guards the Apian land.
     

    Language of Aeschylus

    Watchman’s speech
    House out of order

    First chorus
    Vengence
    Animals
    All knowledge through suffering
    Iphigenia
    Does chorus approve or disapprove of Agamemnon’s decision?
    Tragedy: understanding intentionality of man judged by standard of absolute liability.

    Klytemnestra’s stichomythia  w/ chorus
    Beacons: nature of proof; she has more than hope
    What does Beacon speech reveal about Klytemnestra?
    What does it reveal about the chorus?

    Third chorus [Helen/Lion - 681]
    Who is the lion? Why?

    Carpet ­ scene
    Why?
    Chorus in 2nd chorus -> justice involves a sense of not being arrogant, overdoing it, believing your luck too much;

    KASSANDRA:
    Repeat issues of language/communication/ways of knowing of beacon speech
    About the house of Atreus

    Why doesn’t the chorus warn Agamemonon or resist Klytemnestra?
    What is the chorus’ position on Agamemon, Klytemnestra? Aegisthus [1580]

    "Justice is sharpened for another deed of harm"

    "Taunt is now met with taunt,
    and it is hard to judge;
    Who shall cast out the brood of curses from the house?
    The race is fastened to destruction.

    Aegisthus ­ is there something not right about not doing it himself? [gender constructions of vengence?]

    Why does Clytemnestra kill Agamemnon? [1372] Do the reasons she offers change from the Agamemnon to the the Libation Bearers? What might it mean if they do?
     

    What constitutes justice in the Agamemnon?
     
    Why are Clytemnestra and Agamemnon less then perfect defenders of this conception of justice?
     
    Are the Eumenides better defenders of this conception of justice?
     
    What role does the chorus play in the articulation and critique of this conception of justice?
     
    What role does Cassandra play in the articulation and critique of this conception of justice?
     
    What constitutes justice in the Eumenides?
     
     Is Athena's vote cast rationally or irrationally?
     
    What constitutes justice in the Eumenides? What are the consequences of this new conception of justice?
     


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