214 M. I. DAVIES
THOUGHTS ON THE ORESTEIA BEFORE AISCHYLOS
Three years bave passed since Mrs. Emily Vermeule published the magnificent Boston Oresteia Krater, in an article which will always remain a landmark in the long series of studies concerned with the evidence for the Oresteia legend in classical art and literature (1). As a useful collection of material, and a most learned and stimulating discussion of its significance, her publication must command the respect and gratitude of all those whose pleasure — and anguish — it is to work with the difficult archaeological and literary problems which abound in this subject. One measure of Mrs. Vermeule's success in arousing interest and response is the fact that at least three Archaeological Notes and one Notice have been published within a space of fifteen months after her work appeared, all of which deal specifically with problems and questions which she raised in her article (2). It is hoped that the present study will demonstrate once more the
(1) Emily Vermeule, «The Boston Oresteia Krater», AJA 70 (1966), 1-22. Calyx krater by the Dokimasia Painter, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 63.1246 (Beazley, ARV* 1652). For the abbreviations used in this paper, see AJA 69 (1965), 199-206. I should like to thank the following individuals for their interest in and criticism of the present study: Prof. Erik Sjôqvist, for reading a draft of my first ideas on this subject, and for providing me with encouragement and careful criticism; Prof. A. E. Raubitschek, who also read a draft of this paper and made numerous helpful suggestions; Profs. Bernard G. Fenik and Robert D. Murray, Jr., for reading portions of this paper and suggesting improvements. I have also had the pleasure and benefit of discussing my work with Prof. Christoph Clairmont, who has been most helpful with his criticism. My sincere thanks are also due to Professor Georges Daux for accepting my English manuscript and for his assistance with the final proofs. In expressing my gratitude to these individuals I hasten to assume sole responsibility for the opinions here expressed. For financial assistance in the preparation of this study, I am grateful to the Committee for the Spears Fund at Princeton University. This paper collects some preliminary thoughts on the early Oresteia legend(s) in art and literature which I plan to develop into a dissertation as a doctoral candidate at Princeton University. The main body of the present study was written in the winter of 1967/68, and the final version submitted for publication in January, 1969. (2) Known to me are: C. W. Clairmont, «Zum Oresteia-Krater in Boston», Antike Kunst 9 (1966), 125-127; E. G. Pemberton, «A Note on the Death of Aigisthos», AJA 70 (1966), 377-378; R. R. Dyer, «The Iconography of the Oresteia after Aeschylus», AJA 71 (1967), 175-176;
