Are the gods in control of their own destinies? There are many quotes relating to this topic in The Eumenides, but I found one that particularly sparked this question for me: "But I shall give the suppliant help and rescue, for/if I willingly fail him who turns to me for aid,/his wrath, before gods and men, is fearful thing." Lines 232-234 In this quotation spoken by the god of prophecy, Apollo, he admits …showed first 75 words of 408 total…

…showed last 75 words of 408 total…by the 'younger' gods. As said by the Furies to Apollo: "Such are the actions of the younger gods. These hold/by unconditional force, beyond all right, a throne/that runs reeking blood,/blood at the feet, blood at the head.../[Apollo] has spoiled his secret shrine's/hearth with the stain, driven and hallowed the action on./He made man's way cross the place of the ways of god/and blighted age-old distributions of power."