INQ-177 | Greek Landscape and Literature: The Oresteia in Context

Topic Description:

The Oresteia trilogy, written by Aeschylus, and first performed in 458 BCE, tells the story of Orestes, son of the royal family of Argos: a tragic tale of betrayal, murder, and revenge. The Oresteia also offers an account of Athens’ emergence from the archaic past into the Golden Age of democracy and leadership among other Greek states. The Oresteia charts Orestes’ movement from Argos in the Peloponnese to Apollo’s temple at Delphi and the surrounding mountains, and finally into Athens and the Parthenon on the Acropolis. Following in the footsteps of Orestes, we will explore a full range of Greek landscapes – islands, mountains, ancient archeological sites and the modern city of Athens. By visiting the original locations of significant moments in Greek history, religion and literature, we will see for ourselves how the landscape posed challenges and uniquely shaped the Greek experience. In these locations we will learn about classical Greek culture and experience the intersections between the classical world and modern Greece.

Course Types Offered: Travel

Topic Approved: April 2014