The erinyes revisit

The Erinyes, also known as the Furies, are figures in Greek mythology associated with vengeance and punishment. They are often described as infernal goddesses who pursue and punish those who have committed serious crimes, especially those who have violated fundamental moral and social norms, such as the murder of family members.

According to Greek mythology, the Erinyes are the daughters of Gaia (the Earth) and either Uranus (the Sky) or Nyx (the Night). They are depicted as women with terrifying appearances, snakes for hair, and bright, piercing eyes. Additionally, they often carry torches and whips, symbols of their role as enforcers of divine vengeance.

The role of the Erinyes was to ensure that justice was served, especially in cases of heinous crimes that were not properly punished by human courts. When a serious crime occurred, and the victim or their relatives couldn't obtain justice, the intervention of the Erinyes was invoked. These relentless goddesses pursued the guilty, inflicting psychological and physical torment, haunting their conscience, and driving them to madness until the individual repented and accepted their guilt or was properly punished.

One of the most well-known myths involving the Erinyes is the story of Orestes. Orestes killed his own mother, Clytemnestra, in revenge for the murder of his father, Agamemnon. However, the act of killing his own mother haunted him deeply. The Erinyes started to pursue and torment him, causing his sanity to deteriorate. To escape their relentless pursuit, Orestes sought guidance from the god Apollo, who instructed him to go to Athens and seek absolution before the court of the Areopagus. The trial in Athens was presided over by Athena, and Orestes was acquitted with the help of the goddess, who voted in his favor, resulting in a tie in the court. Athena, as the goddess of wisdom, cast the deciding vote in favor of Orestes, showing that human justice prevailed over divine vengeance.

This story illustrates the ambivalent role of the Erinyes in Greek mythology. On one hand, they represented relentless vengeance and punishment for crimes committed. On the other hand, they also reflected the need for equitable and humane justice, rather than blind and uncontrollable vengeance.