ORESTES. A-rinsWz (Lat., from Gk. 'f/plarnc). In Greek legend, a son of Agamemnon and Cly temnestra. According to the Odyssey, he was sent from by his mother when she yielded to the seductions of -Egisthus. Brought up at Athens, he returned eight years after the murder of his father by _Egisthus, slew the murderer, and recovered the kingdom. The death of Cly temnestra is implied, but there is no allusion to her murder by her son. In the later poets, ap parently through the influence of Stesichorus. this became the prominent feature of the story. which was then closely connected with the wor ship of the Delphian Apollo, as a purifier from the guilt of blood. The theme was treated by the three great tragedians, by _Eschylus in the Orestan trilogy, by Sophocles in the Elects, by Euripides in the Electra. Orestes, and 1phi genia „tmony the Taut-bins. The versions vary in the details according to the dramatic ideas which influenced the writers. After the murder of Agamemnon, _p:risthus and Clytemnestra ruled over Myccrue, or Argos, without opposition. Electra, sister of Orestes, was harshly treated because she still mourned her father and longed for vengeance on his murderers. Orestes in Phocis hesitated to return until ordered by Apollo to revenge his father. lie therefore went
to the palace, revealed himself to Electra, by stratagem secured admission and slew his mother, Clytemnestra, and bet paramour. He then sought purification at Delphi, and in one version found it. Another story told how the Erinnves (or Furies) pursued the -matricide, and even Apollo could not help hinibut sent him to Athens, where Athena established the high court of the Areo pagus to bear the case. Orestes was acquitted by a tie vote, and the Furies were appeased by the establishment of their worship as the Eu menides at Athens. Euripides added the story that after the trial Orestes was freed only by voyaging to the Tauric Chersoncse for the image of Artemis, thus freeing his sister Iphig,enia (q.v.). The Orestes of Euripides has a unique version of a trial at Argos and condemnation. After his release from the Furies Orestes reigned at Arms or Sparta, and married Hermione, daughter of Menelaus, after killing at Delphi Neoptolemus, son of Achilles, who also claimed her hand. Scenes from this legend are common on vases and sarcophagi.