The Libation Bearers is a tragedy by Aeschylus that was first performed around 458 BCE. Known as the “father of tragedy” for his role in inventing the dramatic form that defined the glorious heyday of Athens, Aeschylus wrote The Libation Bearer as the middle play of his trilogy The Oresteia—along with Agamemnon and The Eumenides. It tells the story of Orestes’s quest to avenge the murder of his father Agamemnon by his mother Clytamnestra.

Summary

Read one the detailed line-by-line Summary & Analysis or the Full Play Summary of The Libation Bearers.

Characters

See a complete list of the characters in The Libation Bearers and in-depth analyses of Orestes, Clytamnestra, and Electra.

Literary Devices

Here is where you will find analysis of the key themes, motifs, and symbols in The Libation Bearers.

Quotes

Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or refresh your memory of The Libation Bearers.

Deeper Study

Go further in your study of The Libation Bearers with background information about Aeschylus and the nonfiction book as well as mini essays about key topics.