The only complete trilogy surviving from ancient Greece: Agamemnon returns from Troy and is murdered by his wife; Orestes avenges his father by killing his mother; the Furies pursue him until Athena establishes a court of law. Aeschylus fought at Marathon and invented tragedy as we know it. The trilogy moves from blood vendetta to justice, from private revenge to public institution. The Furies become the Kindly Ones; Orestes is acquitted; civilization begins. The chorus speaks with multiple voices. The violence is terrible. The resolution is fragile. The court is still in session.