Apollo Was the Seer Who Set Me This Work

Cassandra: Apollo was the seer who set me this work….
Chorus: Were you already ecstatic in the skills of God?
Cassandra: Yes; even then I read my city’s destinies.
— from Agamemnon, by Aeschylus

The excerpt you’ve provided is from “Agamemnon,” a play by the ancient Greek tragedian Aeschylus, which is part of his trilogy, the Oresteia. The character speaking is Cassandra, a figure from Greek mythology who was bestowed with the gift of prophecy by the god Apollo.

In these lines, Cassandra is engaged in a dialogue with the Chorus. She speaks about her prophetic abilities, which were granted to her by Apollo, the god of prophecy, music, and many other things in Greek mythology. Cassandra’s story is particularly tragic; despite being given the gift of prophecy, Apollo also cursed her so that no one would ever believe her predictions. This curse leads to devastating consequences for her and those around her.

In the context of the play, these lines serve multiple purposes:

1. Character Development: They help to establish Cassandra’s character, her divine gift of prophecy, and her tragic curse. This sets the stage for the dramatic irony that pervades her character, as the audience is aware that her prophecies are true even though the characters in the play do not believe her.
2. Foreshadowing: Cassandra’s references to her ability to foresee her city’s destinies serve as a foreshadowing mechanism. Her visions often contain ominous hints about the future events of the play, particularly concerning the fate of Agamemnon and the house of Atreus.
3. Thematic Elements: The dialogue reflects themes of fate, divine will, and the inescapability of destiny, which are central to many Greek tragedies. It highlights the helplessness of humans in the face of preordained futures, a common motif in Greek drama.

Cassandra’s story is a poignant example of the tragic elements in Greek mythology and drama, where extraordinary gifts often come with equally significant burdens or curses.

― #genAI/chatgpt