The History of the House of Atreus

Here's what I was going to share this morning. As far as reading the play, it will be much different than what we've read so far, but for the purpose of our discussion tomorrow I just want you to focus on the story. I will give you a proper introduction to Ancient Greek theater later after we finish the Odyssey. So, don't worry if something doesn't make complete sense, or if you don't understand everything that's going on. I mainly wanted to give you then end of the story of Agamemnon before jumping into Odysseus' story and the second Homeric poem.

Tantalus – Son of (disputed): Zeus & Pluto, Oceanus & Tethys, Tmolus.

Friend of Zeus, stole immortal food to share with mortals. Invited immortal gods to a banquet, but did not have enough food. So, he cut up his son Pelops & served him to the gods. Only Demeter ate the food, since she was the only one who did not recognize the meal. Punished in Hades by standing in unreachable water and unreachable fruit above his head, forever “tantalized”.

Pelops – Son of Tantalus

Desired to marry Hippodameia, daughter of King Oenomaus, the Arcadian King of Pisa and Elis. Oenomaus challenged all suitors to a chariot race. Hippodameia would ride with each suitor in the race and if the suitor won, Oenomaus would die. Oenomaus tricked them by letting them start early while he sacrificed to Zeus. Myrtilus (son of Hermes), Oenomaus’ charioteer, also fell in love with Hippodameia. Pelops convinced him to betray Oenomaus in return for the privilege of spending the bridal night with Hippodameia. Once they won and got away, Pelops did not follow through on their agreement and threw Myrtilus off of a cliff into the sea. On his way down, Myrtilus cursed Pelops and his descendants.

Atreus – Son of Pelops & Hippodameia

Thyestes – Son of Pelops & Hippodameia

Atreus promised to sacrifice the finest of his flock to Artemis. Hermes in revenge for Myrtilus’ murder sent a golden lamb. Atreus sacrificed the lamb but kept the golden fleece. The council decided that the throne belonged to the owner of the lamb/fleece. So, Thyestes devised a plan to steal the fleece from Atreus by way of seducing Atreus’ wife, Aerope. From there, ensued a long battle back and forth of stealing it from each other. Eventually, Aerope gave birth to Pelopia after Thyestes fled. Later on, Thyestes accidentally rapes his daughter Pelopia, who gives birth to Aegisthus. Atreus as King, raised him and then sent him to kill Thyestes. He fails, Thyestes recognizes him as his own son, and tells him to bring his mother to him. Pelopia recognizes that her father was the rapist and commits suicide. Thyestes then sends Aegisthus to kill Atreus and succeeds.

Tyndareus & Leda – King and Queen of Sparta, contemporaries with Atreus & Thyestes

Leda was seduced by Zeus in the form of a swan and gave birth to 4 children: Polydeuces & Helen in one egg, and Castor and Clytamnestra in the other egg. The twin brothers later become gods, while Helen and Clytamnestra remain mortals (Helen being the most beautiful of all women).

Agamemnon – Son of Atreus & Aerope

Menelaus – Song of Atreus & Aerope

After Aegisthus killed Atreus and Thyestes became King of Mycenae, Agamemnon and Menelaus received help from King Tyndareus (Sparta) in regaining their thrones. With Tyndareus’ help, Thyestes was forced to give Agamemnon the throne of Mycenae. Menelaus, of course, later marries Tyndareus’ daughter, Helen, and becomes King of Sparta.

Menelaus and Helen have one daughter, Hermione*, before Helen is seduced by Paris and taken to Troy.

Agamemnon first went to war against Tantalus, King of Pisa, the son of his uncle Broteas. After conquering, he married Tantalus’ widow, Clytamnestra, daughter of Tyndareus. With her he has 4 children: Iphigenia, Orestes, Chrysothemis, and Electra.

Iphigenia – Daughter of Agamemnon & Clytamnestra

In order to appease Artemis, and guarantee a victory at Troy, Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia at Aulis before leaving for Troy.

Aegisthus – Incest son of Pelopia (daughter) & Thyestes (father)

After Agamemnon left for Troy, Aegisthus seduced Clytamnestra, which wasn’t very hard to do since she was already angry with Agamemnon. Together they plotted to murder Agamemnon upon his return home.

Hermione - Daughter of Menelaus & Helen

First is married to Neoptolemus (son of Achilles). Later, Orestes kills Neoptolemus and marries Hermione.

* If the name Hermione calls to mind Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling studied classics as her undergraduate major :)