The Oresteia | Teaching Setting, Symbolism and Objects

Object Descriptions

This section provides a short description of all the major objects in the book. This can be printed out as a study guide for students, used as a "key" for leading a class discussion, or you can jump to the quiz/homework section to find worksheets that incorporate these descriptions into a variety of question formats.

Objects

The Oresteia - This is one of the few complete, surviving examples of Greek theater.

Mycenae - This is a powerful city that is the setting for the tragedies of the first play.

Agamemnon's Palace - This place is the scene of many murders over the years.

The Carpet of Purple Cloth - This represents death and destruction for the house of Atreus.

Clytemnestra's Ax and Agamemnon's Bath - These items are involved in the murder of a king of Mycenae.

Agamemnon's Grave - This is place where Electra and Orestes are reunited.