Justice in the Orestia. A look at the contrasting views of justice in Greece, and the transition to a deliberative for of justice.

Aeschylus is primarily concerned with the nature of justice. In the trilogy The Oresteia, the Akhaians evolve from an older, more primitive autocratic form of justice, to a new concept of civil justice devised by Athena. He confronts the contrast between the old and new orders, the lives of the members of the House of Atreus, and the serious moral questions that Orestes' crime presents. The case against Orestes is strong. The son admits to …

…of understanding and civilisation. It may be argued that Clytaemnestra's death was left unavenged; that justice escaped her. Orestes' right to avenge the dishonorable death of his father was upheld by the court. The tribunal deemed Clytaemnestra's actions wrong and Orestes' just. With the establishment of Athena's judicial system, there is now a method to prosecute people like Clytaemnestra, such that the ancient blood-lust of vengeance doesn't take rule over issues of right and wrong.