Greek Mythology lecture 6 The House of Atreus

Greek Mythology: lecture 6 The House of Atreus

Genealogy Tantalos + Dione Broteas Niobe Pelops + Hippodamia Chrysippus Pittheus Atreus + Aerope Thyestes Agamemnon + Clytemnestra Aethra + Aegeus Theseus others 3 sons Iphigenia Chrysothemis Electra Orestes Menelaus + Helen Hermione Pelopia (+ father) Aegisthus

Tantalus King of Sipylus, friend of gods l Stole ambrosia (Pindar) l Revealed divine secrets (Euripides) l Banquet of gods: served Pelops – cannibalism l Punished in Hades – ‘tantalise’ l

Pelops Beloved of Poseidon l Loved Hippodamia – chariot-race at Elis l Corruption of Myrtilus l Pelopid curse – ancestral guilt/sexual transgression l

Atreus & Thyestes l l l l Murder of brother Chrysippus - fratricide Ruled Mycenae after Eurystheus Golden lamb Seduction of Aerope – sexual transgression Feast of Thyestes – cannibalism Rape of Pelopia & birth of Aegisthus – incest Murder of Atreus & restoration of Thyestes

Agamemnon & Menelaus Restored by Tyndareus, marriage to his daughters (rape? ) l Sacrifice of Iphigenia – infanticide l Seduction of Clytemnestra – sexual transgression l Rape of Cassandra – sexual transgression l Murder of Agamemnon l

Orestes & Electra Orestes sent to Phocis l Returns & reunited with sister l Killing of Aegisthus, murder of Clytemnestra – matricide l Punished by mother’s Erinyes (Furies) l Acquitted at Athens – foundation of Areopagus murder court (Aeschylus) l Electra married to Pylades l

Alternatives l Euripides: l Andromache (428 -24 BC) Conflict between Hermione & Andromache l Elopement with Orestes after death of Neoptolemus l l Iphigenia in Tauris (412 BC) Orestes sent to claim cult-statue of Artemis after acquittal l Rescue of Iphigenia from the Taurians l l Orestes (408 BC) Orestes charged with matricide by Mycenaeans l Threats to Helen and Hermione to blackmail Menelaus l Divine epiphany – happy ending l

Meanings? l Exploration/violation of taboos? l Infanticide l l Violence l l Connected with… Sexual transgression l l Fratricide, matricide, vendetta killings Cannibalism l l Murder, sacrifice, exposure Rape, adultery, incest Like Labdacids, line is eventually wiped out by new settlers…