Concept
Orestes (prefect of Egypt)
Overview
5th century Roman governor of Egypt
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
In the original texts
Passages from public-domain books where Orestes (prefect of Egypt) is discussed.
ORESTES. He fell! IPHIGENIA. Unblest Mycene!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Iphigenia in Tauris
names the idea; a chapter is titled for it; opens on it
Taur., 447; iii. 27, 99, 116, 194; Frag., 3, 19, 33, 41, 42, 94, 230, 458, 475, 512; Hippol., 483; Orestes, 168, 437; Phoeniss, 16, 32, 43, 49, 257; Stheneboea, 217; Iph. Taur., 21; Androm., 232; Hipsipyle, 291, iv. 17, 128, 142, 270, 308, 450, 478, 497; Frag., 47, 220, 233, 251, 272, 273, 292, 301, 325, 392, 461, 475; Bacchae, 223, 272, 422, 506; Hippol., 294, 298; Cyclops, 56; Aeolus, 105; Troad, 132; Orestes…
Plutarch, Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 1
names the idea; opens on it
Next after these are (2) Discoveries made directly by the poet; which are inartistic for that very reason; e.g. Orestes' Discovery of himself in _Iphigenia_: whereas his sister reveals who she is by the letter, Orestes is made to say himself what the poet rather than the story demands. This, therefore, is not far removed from the first-mentioned fault, since he might have presented certain tokens as well. Another…
Aristotle, Aristotle on the art of poetry
names the idea; states what it is; opens on it
But soon after, it happened that he was elected quaestor, and obliged to attend Orestes, the consul, into Sardinia. This, as it pleased his enemies, so it was not ungrateful to him, being naturally of a warlike character, and as well trained in the art of war as in that of pleading.
Plutarch, Plutarch
opens on it; names the idea
[Footnote: Among the many and conflicting legends about Orestes is that which seems to have been the theme of the lost tragedy of Pacuvius. Orestes, after avenging on his mother and her paramour the murder of his father, in order to expiate the guilt of matricide, was directed by the Delphian oracle to go to Tauris, and to steal and transport to Athens an image of Artemis that had fallen from heaven. His friend…
Marcus Tullius Cicero, De Amicitia, Scipio's Dream
names the idea; states what it is; opens on it
Philosophers who discussed Orestes (prefect of Egypt)
Related ideas
Place in the tradition
Part of Neoplatonism.
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