When he killed his mom Clytemnestra, Orestes became the most notorious mother killer of all time. Before you go thinking he was just a psycho, though, you ought to know that Orestes committed matricide because Clytemnestra murdered Agamemnon, her husband and Orestes' father. Also, Orestes was ordered to avenge his father's death by Apollo himself. What's a guy to do? After the murder, Orestes was plagued by the furious Furies, until Athena finally stepped in and acquitted him in one of the first court cases ever. Extenuating circumstances comin' at ya.
Basic Information
Name
Orestes
Nickname
Mother Killer (not particularly fond of this nickname)
Sex
Male
Current city
Elysium
Work & Education
Occupation
King of Mycenae (a.k.a. Argos)
Education
The Furies' School of Retribution (forced attendance) Athena's Academy of Justice (a happy graduate to say the least)
Beliefs
Political views
The court case in which I was acquitted is widely considered to have created the idea of democracy, so I have to say I'm pretty into it.
Family & Friends (& Enemies)
Parents
Agamemnon (Dad) (who was killed by my mom) Clytemnestra (Mom) (who I killed for killing my dad)
Siblings
Iphigenia (my sister who my father sacrificed—the reason my mom killed him) Electra (my sister who helped me kill our mom) Chrysothemis (didn't kill anybody—bo-ring)
Children
Tisamenus
Friends
Pylades (total BFFs) Apollo (who stood beside me through the scandal) Athena (who absolved me of my crimes)
"What I need is a good defense 'Cause I'm feelin' like a criminal And I need to be redeemed To the one I've sinned against" – from "Criminal" by Fiona Apple
"Mama, [I] just killed a man..." – from "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen (I change this to "Oh man, I just killed Mama" when I sing it in the shower)
"You were a child, crawlin' on your knees toward it. Makin' Mama so proud, but your voice was too loud." – from "Kids" by MGMT
"Every whisper, Every waking hour I'm Choosing my confessions Trying to keep an eye on you Like a hurt, lost and blinded fool, fool" – from "Losing My Religion" by REM
"Forgiveness doesn't change the past, but it does enlarge the future." – Paul Boese
Books
Agamemnon Libation Bearers The Eumenides Hamlet by William Shakespeare (A lot of people say Hamlet was inspired by my life story.) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee The Flies by Jean-Paul Sartre (I wish I were really as smart as this guy makes me out to be.) On the Road by Jack Kerouac (Totally reminds me of Pylades and my adventuring days.) In Cold Blood by Truman Capote Long Day's Journey Into Night by Eugene O'Neill (This messed-up family almost seems happy compared to mine.) Electra by Sophocles (Clearly this should be named after me and not my sis, but whatevs.)
