‘Eumenìdi’ at Greek Theatre of Siracusa (Sicily).

‘Eumenidi’ on ‘Ancient Greek Vocabulary – Italian’, L. Rocci – ‘Società Editrice Dante Alighieri’ (2002), p.798. Picture ref.T : 0_5528418_125008.jpg

The meeting on next July 31[2] would like to propose the anticipation of an exciting work by Aeschilous, first of ancient authors of tragedies[3], who often fighted together with Athens army and then had to experience that specific affect of pain which is anguish. ‘Eumenidi’ does finish, after ‘Agamemnon’ and ‘Coefore‘, the trilogy of ‘Orestea’ performed the first time in Athens, in 458 a.C., winning Aeschilous the first prize in ‘Grandi Dionisie’ Games : it is a not usual item the work where prince Orestes, escaping from Argo without admitting his responsibility in the murder of his mother Clitemnestra – who was already murderer of king Agamemnon, father of Orestes – in order to look for asylum next to temple of god Apollo, who suggested Orestes to revenge Agamemnon. Now the prince is fiercely suffering, notwithstanding the divine Justice is in his favour, his own defence is unuseful because of the fury of voluptuous and monstruous ’Erinyes’, whose istinct pulls to aggress everyone, and also able, on the other hand, to suddenly fall in a deep noising lethargy‘. “Catch him! Catch him!”, they shout, snoring after the escaping prey, and even in front of the annoyed shadow of Clytemnestra. There is an inexplicable anguish in Oreste, or just admitting an external aggression of a monster who doesn’t assault each culprit – the dead Clitemnestra infact didn’t feel any charge notwithstand she murdered Agamemnon – and above all which doesn’t remain just a private item, touching then the whole society, sweeping away any divine forecasting of Justice. But, what about humans if anxiety and anguish will not remain on earth ? The worth of Aeschilous work is undoubtable. In the Law Court Athena founded, as a goddess of knowledge and war, prince Orestes has now to be judged.

Marina Bilotta Membretti, Cernusco sul Naviglio July 25, 2021

[1] It is a number of years that psychoanalist Dr. Giacomo B. Contri writes and speaks about an individual Constitution: www.giacomocontri.it www.operaomniagiacomocontri.it

[2] ‘Oreste e il diritto’ is the title of next appointment organized by Fondazione I.N.D.A. ‘Istituto Nazionale Dramma Antico’ and ‘Società Amici del pensiero Sigmund Freud’ : it will be holded in Ortigia – Siracusa on next July 31, 2021 and the representation of ‘Eumenidi’ will follow at Greek Theatre the same evening’.

[3] Aeschilous (525 a.C. - 456 a.C.) was the first ancient author of tragedies and to him followed Sofocle (496 a.C. - 406 a.C.) and Euripide (485 a.C. - 406 a.C. ).