Greek vases
The fourth-century Greek vases of Italy often display scenes which seem to be inspired by stage presentations of tragedies by Athenian poets. Here Athena (at left) comforts Orestes who has taken refuge before the tripod and omphalos (navel-stone of the earth) at Delphi. Apollo stands at the right beside a snake-trimmed Fury (there is another over the tripod) waiting to wreak vengeance on Orestes for the murder of his mother. Apollo will purify Orestes, and Athena eventually rescue him while the Furies become the Kindly Ones (Eumenides). (Boardman, 1986)