The Eumenides: Athena says Orestes acquitted on tie

fact puts into action Athena's declaration that Orestes wins his case even if the · votes split equally: it makes the trial a charter-myth for this judicial rule.7 · Within the play the tie vote is part of the truth to which the Erinyes must be · reconciled.

fact puts into action Athena's declaration that Orestes wins his case even if the · votes split equally: it makes the trial a charter-myth for this judicial rule.7 · Within the play the tie vote is part of the truth to which the Erinyes must be · reconciled.

The Verdict and the Aftermath: The jury comes back with a tied vote and Athena votes in favor of Orestes. The furies are “furious” and they promise to place a plague on the people of Athens. Athena is able to placate the furies by giving them a place in the new justice system.

750 Great suffering comes from a lack of attention, and a single ballot has often set straight a house. The results are shown to Athena. Athena This man is acquitted on the charge [dikē] of bloodshed, for the number of casts is equal.

likely that there were two urns on stage in Eumenides. The later representa- tions of this scene (see below, note 14) all show only one urn on a table, though · in several a second urn lies on its side on the ground below the table. " If Athena announced first that the votes were equal and secondly that · Orestes was acquitted, then she might possibly cast her vote between these

others. But Athena's vote may be symbolic and yet it is still a vote, it still · counts for Orestes in the real trial, and thus it must at some time be cast and ... Study of Athenian Voting Procedure," Hesperia 32 (1963) 366-74. It is thus · likely that there were two urns on stage in Eumenides.

Since this young god o'errides mine ancient right, I tarry but to claim your law, not knowing If wrath of mine shall blast your state or spare. ATHENA · Mine is the right to add the final vote, And I award it to Orestes' cause.

Apollo Correctly count by fives ... has often set straight a house. The results are shown to Athena. Athena This man is acquitted on the charge [dikē] of bloodshed, for the number of casts is equal....

Nevertheless, she does not identify the public with the democratic, with the rule of the majority of freemen possessed of equal votes. She makes it clear that membership in her favored institution must be selective. But on what principles selective? If we go by the only criterion Athena mentions when she chooses the eleven jurors who will share with her judgment upon Orestes’s case, she says simply “men without fault” (475) and “the best from among my citizens.” (487)