Justice and Prophecy: The Relationship between Zeus and Apollo in Greek Tragedy

Abstract

While the ancient Greek gods have been much studied individually, there are comparatively few studies on the relationships between certain gods. Examinations of pairs of gods in religious contexts have proven fruitful in furthering our understanding of each god as part of the Greek pantheon collectively. This thesis approaches the same issue in the genre of tragedy by examining the relationship between Zeus and Apollo as presented by Aeschylus and Sophocles. Both gods are considered in their anthropomorphised aspects as well as in relation to their more abstract spheres of influence. Zeus is not just the king of the gods who sits on Olympus, but the guarantor of δίκη, a concept that is very prominent in tragedy. Similarly, various oracles and other forms of prophecy are a common device in tragedy, and are considered as they relate to Apollo, god of prophecy. The relationship between both gods in their various aspects is explored in each extant play of both tragedians in turn. The way in which the two gods are connected to the wider range of divine powers, such as the Furies, μοῖρα and δαίμονες, is also investigated. The gods’ alignment is shown to be unique in its prominence,exemplified by the recurrent importance of Apollo’s oracles fulfilling Zeus’ justice through these supernatural forces. The plays where Apollo’s oracles are not dominant are shown nevertheless to adhere to these depictions of the divine world. The significance of Zeus and Apollo’s alignment is demonstrated by the impact they have in driving the play’s action on the divine plane, as well as in developing the themes each play explores. The two gods are additionally shown to be influential in evoking in the audience the emotional responses central to the experience of tragedy.