Unanimous Gods, Unanimous Athens: The Oresteia's Challenge to Democracy

Abstract:This article argues that through envisioning a militaristic, unanimous Athens, the Eumenides presents a novel and provocative political theory. I use political theology to clarify the structures and dangers of this concluding vision, which profoundly diverges from Athenian democracy. However, still meaningfully operative within the Oresteia are checking forces implied in its polytheism, plural values, and political structures. These mirror Athenian society and manifest the trilogy's internal critique of unanimity. The interplay of unanimity and plurality enables us to better understand the trilogy, ask new questions about early democratic thought, and confront the monotheistic assumptions of modern political theology.