Orestes and Electra at the Archaeological Museum of Naples in Italy

Orestes was the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra.

He became famous through legends and ancient theatre, as the avenger of Agamemnon, who was murdered on his return from the Trojan War by Aegisthus, his mother’s lover.

Orestes and Electra, Temple of Serapis, Pozzuoli, Archaeological Museum of Naples, Italy

Orestes and Electra Orestes escaped the massacre thanks to his elder sister Electra, who fled with him to seek refuge with their uncle by marriage, Strophios, who raised Orestes alongside his own son, Pylades.

According to an ancient legend, as soon as Orestes reached adulthood, Apollo ordered him to kill his father’s murderers.

According to the Greek tragedians who have handed down this story to us, it was Electra who persuaded Orestes and encouraged him to avenge their father, with Apollo’s permission.

In accordance with the ancient tradition of punishing murderers, Orestes was then seized by madness and was pursued by the Furies, the goddesses who protect social order.

He found refuge on the omphalos of the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, where the god purified him of his murder.

Orestes and Electra Orestes was then taken to Athens by the Furies to stand trial for the murder of his mother; the verdict was split, with the votes evenly divided between conviction and acquittal, so Athena cast her vote to acquit Orestes.

Orestes and Electra, Temple of Serapis, Pozzuoli

Sculpture - Marble (Height 150 cm) Second half of the 1st century

Orestes and Electra stand side by side in a fraternal pose.

Their similar faces and features emphasise their close bond by presenting them as twins.

The young Orestes is naked, in the ancient style, with his hair held back by a cord around his head, indicating his princely status.

They discuss their plan for revenge together, pointing their index fingers (now missing) in the same direction.

Orestes and Electra Electra is wearing a chiton and her left shoulder is bare; she affectionately wraps her arm around her brother’s shoulders to better persuade him and encourage him to kill their mother and her lover Aegisthus, to punish them for the murder of their father Agamemnon.

With her left hand resting on her waist and her arm resting on her brother’s shoulder, Electra’s relaxed demeanour demonstrates her ease in persuading her brother to dare to commit such an act.

Orestes is depicted as slightly smaller than his sister; he is naked with the musculature of a teenager, whilst his athletic sister is clothed; he appears overwhelmed by her, vulnerable, we sense that he will obey her and avenge his father’s death by killing his two murderers.

Orestes and Electra