Returning to the land of his birth, exiled prince Orestes seeks to avenge his father’s death, as an order from the god Apollo. He comes across his sister Electra, pouring libations on Agamemnon’s tomb to stop Clytemnestra’s disturbing dreams of giving birth to a snake. Finally reunited after many years, the siblings come up with a plan to sneak Orestes into the palace and murder both their mother and her lover.

The second play of the Oresteia trilogy further explores the difference between revenge and justice, continuing the violent events of Agamemnon. Known as the Father of Tragedy, Aeschylus’ Libation bearers is one of only seven plays to survive from an estimated seventy to ninety works.

Kobo Editions offers this fully-accessible version of the original text for your enjoyment.