He was ordered by Apollo to avenge his father's death by killing his mother. After Orestes kills his mother he is pursued by a group of old gods called the Furies, who are seeking to preserve the old ideal justice. This conflict between new gods and old gods demonstrate the evolution of justice. The Furies were once the governing body over the people and are characterized as violent irrational primal creatures. In contrast Athena sets way for the evolution of justice when she establishes the first civilian court, "I will pick the finest of my citizens They shall swear to make no judgment that is not just, and make clear where in this action the truth lies is known as the truth" (Aeschylus 487-489). The new ruling Olympian gods embody reason, which is necessary for justice to emerge. As the evolution of justice occurs in the gods, it also occurs in society with Orestes trial being ruled by the people.
The Furies chase Orestes all the way to Athens and we find him kneeling at the statue of Athena, begging for help. The Furies are soon to arrive and begin to heckle him. Then the just Athena emerges and inquires what is the cause for this disturbance. Athena uses reason by wanting to know the details rather than jumping to a conclusion. Athena calls for twelve people to be jurors to decide whether Orestes is just or unjust in his actions. This single setting is the foundation on which society has evolved a formal justice system. By calling on the people to rule on the matter pertaining to the people, she has created a setting where justice can come forth through societal responsibility. Involving the people in ruling on matters of justice, Athena gives society the responsibility to uphold what they feel is right and wrong. During the trail Apollo represents Orestes and argues, "I bear responsibility for his mother's murder" (579). Apollo asserts that Orestes was only guilty of following his divine order.
