?In Greek mythology, the Furies, also known as Erinyes, were female spirits that embodied vengeance and justice. These sisters were created from the spilt blood of Uranus, the god of the sky, when he was wounded by his own son with an adamantine sickle. Each of the sisters is described as having bat-like wings, black skin, foul odors and hair tangled with serpents. In addition to these unpleasant physical attributes, the Furies are also described as vindictive and monstrous creatures that drove human wrongdoers mad as punishment for their actions.
As guardians of the law, the Furies could be merciless toward criminals but also had sympathy for the innocent. For instance, the sisters would protect defenseless dogs, children and beggars from harm. In both ways, the Furies protected both moral and legal codes that concerned all aspects of Greek society.
The Furies are one of the stars of Greek dramatist Aeschylus' play 'Eumenides.' The play tells the story of the Furies' relentless pursuit of Orestes, who murdered his own mother, Clytemnestra, after she participated in her husband's murder. Although the god Apollo deemed Orestes' acts as just, the Furies still sought justice. Eventually, the vengeful sisters allowed Orestes to be tried publicly in Athens. The goddess Athena voted to have Orestes acquitted of the crime and calmed the wrathful Furies. After the trial, the Furies became known as the Eumenides, or gracious ones, and found a welcome home in Athens. The reformed Furies were celebrated with shrines throughout Greece and became linked with charm, beauty and goodness instead of punishment, rage and jealousy.
