The Furies
The Furies were also known as the Erinyes to the
Greeks, and sometimes as the Eumenides, or kindly ones. In Heaven
they were referred to as Dirae. They were the female spirits of
justice and vengeance, and the personification of retribution. It
is believed that they were born when Cronos castraded Uranus, his
blood spilled onto the earth (Ge) and the Furies were born of the
union. Named Alecto, Megaera and Tisiphone the Furies lived in
Erebus.
The Furies are usually represented in art as winged spirits with snakes in their hair and holding whips or torches. Their most important role is as the punisher of those who transgress "Natural" Law, such as the laws of kinship and especially Matricide. The Furies persecuted Alcmaeon for killing his mother Eriphyle on his father's orders. When Orestes killed his mother Clymensta the Furies pursued him inexorably despite his pleas for mercy until Apollo intervened. Because the Furies are representations of a power older than the Olympian Gods they would only accept the verdict of the ancient Athenian court of the Areopagus for the cessation of their persecution of Orestes. As thanks for releasing him from the throws of madness, Orestes makes a sacrifice to the Furies and renames them the Eumenides.
They are also the instrument of the gods' vengeance, who could select their victims for them. It is the Furies who instigate Althea's destruction of her son Meleager, and they who cause the misfortunes of the family of Agamemnon after the sacrifice of Iphigenia to ensure calm weather for the Greek embarkment to Troy. It was the Furies' duty to punish all crimes that would disturb the peace and social order, such as excessive pride, hubris, or over-accurate foretelling of the future, or just plain old murder. The Furies would drive their victims mad until someone could be found who had the power to purify them.
The Furies Today
The Furies were played on Xena by Asa Lindh,
Graciela Heredia, Celi Foncesca and Ann Marie Dennis.
For The Furies Gallery just click, five full pages of images by Banshee
The Furies Episodes
Xena: Warrior Princess
Season 3: "The Furies", Alecto played by Asa Lindh, Megaera played by Graciela Heredia, Tisiphone played by Celi Foncesca
Season 5: Motherhood , Alecto played by Asa Lindh, Tisiphone played by Annmarie Dennis
Season 6: Coming Home, Alecto played by Asa Lindh, Tisiphone played by Annmarie Dennis
Asa Lindh's Filmography
Asa has also appeared in:
"Jack of All Trades" (2000/II) playing "Maggie the Harlot" in episode: "Love Potion #10" (episode # 1.11) 4/24/2000
Heaven (1998) .... Nightclub Dancer
AnnMarie Dennis' Filmography
Ann Marie has also appeared in:
"Jackson's Wharf" (1999) TV Series .... Tanya Warren
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Picture of 'The Furies pursue Orestes' courtesy of the Bettmann Archive, New York
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