Olympians
AphroditeApolloAresArtemisAthenaHadesHephaestusHeraHermesHestiaPoseidonZeusAll Olympians
Titans
AsteriaAstraeusAtlasClymeneCriusCronusDioneEosEpimetheusEurybiaEurynomeHyperionAll Titans
Greek Gods
AeolusAetherAmphitriteAnemoiApateAsclepiusAuraBiaChaosCirceDeimosDemeterAll Greek Gods
Myths
CreaturesElementsFiguresGigantesGreek MythsHeroesMonstersMortalsMoviesNorsePlacesPlanetsAll Myths
Plays
AeschylusAristophanesEuripidesSophoclesAll Plays
Ancient Sources
ApollodorusAeschylusAristophanesApolloniusAll Ancient Sources
Olympians
Olympians
AphroditeApolloAresArtemisAthenaHadesHephaestusHeraHermesHestiaPoseidonZeusAll Olympians
Titans
Titans
AsteriaAstraeusAtlasClymeneCriusCronusDioneEosEpimetheusEurybiaEurynomeHyperionAll Titans
Greek Gods
Greek Gods
AeolusAetherAmphitriteAnemoiApateAsclepiusAuraBiaChaosCirceDeimosDemeterAll Greek Gods
Myths
Myths
CreaturesElementsFiguresGigantesGreek MythsHeroesMonstersMortalsMoviesNorsePlacesPlanetsAll Myths
Plays
Plays
AeschylusAristophanesEuripidesSophoclesAll Plays
Ancient Sources
Ancient Sources
ApollodorusAeschylusAristophanesApolloniusAll Ancient Sources

Euripides · c. 480-406 BC

Electra

Ἠλέκτρα
Ancient Sources / Euripides / Electra

Read our guide to Electra

Euripides' Electra was probably staged in the 410s BC. Electra, daughter of Agamemnon, has been married off to a poor farmer by her mother Clytemnestra and the usurper Aegisthus, and lives in the country, waiting for her exiled brother Orestes. The play follows their recognition, the murder of Aegisthus and of Clytemnestra, and the appearance of the Dioscuri, who give judgment on the deed. The sections follow the play's own units (prologue, parodos, episodes, choral songs and exodos) and keep the standard line numbers of the Greek text.

Read from the start
Text
Greek original with English translation, 28 passages, about 12100 words in English.
Translator
Edward P. Coleridge (1891)
Edition
Greek text: Gilbert Murray (ed.), Euripidis Fabulae, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913, as digitised by Perseus. English: Edward P. Coleridge, The Plays of Euripides, London: George Bell and Sons, first published 1891 (Bohn's Classical Library; the Perseus header records a later printing)
Cite as
Euripides, Electra 1 (by line number)

Contents · 28 passages

  1. 1–53Prologue: the Peasant tells of Electra's marriage500 words
  2. 54–81Prologue: Electra goes to the spring at night275 words
  3. 82–111Prologue: Orestes and Pylades arrive in secret275 words
  4. 112–166Parodos: Electra's lament for Agamemnon291 words
  5. 167–219The Chorus invites Electra to the festival of Hera329 words
  6. 220–246First episode: Orestes meets Electra in disguise313 words
  7. 247–289First episode: Electra explains her marriage to the Peasant506 words
  8. 290–338First episode: Electra tells of her mother and Aegisthus449 words
  9. 339–400First episode: the Peasant welcomes the strangers606 words
  10. 401–431First episode: Electra sends for the Old Man295 words
  11. 432–486First choral song: the ships to Troy and the death of Agamemnon292 words
  12. 487–546Second episode: the Old Man finds offerings at Agamemnon's tomb578 words
  13. 547–584Second episode: the Old Man recognises Orestes by his scar422 words
  14. 585–647Second episode: Orestes and the Old Man plan the attack638 words
  15. 648–684Second episode: Electra's lie to summon Clytemnestra440 words
  16. 685–746Electra's vow; second choral song on Atreus and Thyestes411 words
  17. 747–773Third episode: a Messenger announces Aegisthus' death286 words
  18. 774–858Messenger speech: Orestes kills Aegisthus at the sacrifice779 words
  19. 859–898Third choral song; Electra crowns Orestes as victor325 words
  20. 900–958Exodos: Electra reproaches the dead Aegisthus602 words
  21. 959–987Exodos: the body is hidden and Orestes goes in to kill his mother321 words
  22. 988a–1050Exodos: Clytemnestra arrives and defends the killing of Agamemnon584 words
  23. 1051–1110Exodos: Electra answers her mother540 words
  24. 1111–1146Exodos: Electra lures Clytemnestra into the house391 words
  25. 1147–1189Fourth choral song; the death of Clytemnestra318 words
  26. 1190–1232Exodos: Orestes and Electra lament the murder296 words
  27. 1233–1291Exodos: the Dioscuri appear and give their judgment544 words
  28. 1292–1359Exodos: the Dioscuri's prophecy and the farewell483 words

More by Euripides

English translation by Edward P. Coleridge (1891). Original text: Greek text: Gilbert Murray (ed.), Euripidis Fabulae, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913, as digitised by Perseus. English: Edward P. Coleridge, The Plays of Euripides, London: George Bell and Sons, first published 1891 (Bohn's Classical Library; the Perseus header records a later printing).

Greek text and translation from the Perseus Digital Library, Tufts University, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Perseus Digital Library); translation public domain. Introductions, summaries and notes © GreekMythology.com.