Mycenae fl 1600 1100 BC On Mycenae and

Mycenae (fl. 1600 -1100 BC) On Mycenae and the Mycenaean (and Minoan) Age, see MLS pp. 39 -46

Figure 18. 1 The House of Atreus

Aerial view of Mycenae, view to NE from plain below

View from the citadel of Mycenae

Plan of Mycenae The ‘Lion’s Gate’ entrance to Mycenae

The Tomb of Atreus, Mycenae, 14 th cent. BC

Entrance to Tomb of Atreus (above), and just inside the entrance (right)

Gold ‘death mask’, Mycenae, 14 th cent.

Gold Crown, Mycenae, 16 th cent. BC

Gold Cup, Mycenae, 16 th Cent.

Gold and silver inlaid sword blades (Mycenae, 16 th cent. BC)

Mycenaean ‘rhyton’ or ‘drinking cups’: Left, head of a bull Right, Lion’s head

Gold signet ring with hunting scene (Mycenae, 16 th cent. BC

Figure 18. 1 The House of Atreus

Chapter 18: The Mycenaean Saga – Key characters: • Tantalus and Pelops • Atreus and Thyestes • Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, and Aegisthus • Orestes and Electra • [Additional Reading: Orestes and the Three Electras]

Tantalus and Pelops (1 of 2) • Pelops: ancestor of House of Atreus • Suitor for hand of Hippodamia, daughter of King Oenomaüs • Pelops’ father Tantalus abuses privilege • Tantalus’ punishment in the Underworld • Cannibalism • Gods recognize Tantalus’ deception • Demeter and the ivory shoulder

Tantalus and Pelops (2 of 2) • Pelops has important hero cult at Olympia • Peloponnese (Pelops’ Island) • Race for Hippodamia: bribes charioteer Myrtilus, Oenomaüs dies • Pelops wins Hippodamia • Kills Myrtilus, who curses him and descendants • Origin of curse on House of Atreus

Figure 18. 1 The House of Atreus

Atreus and Thyestes • Pelops becomes king • His two sons, Atreus and Thyestes, quarrel over Mycenae • Thyestes’ adultery and deception • Cannibalism at Atreus’ reconciliation banquet • Thyestes goes into exile

Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, and Aegisthus (1 of 2) • Quarrel of Atreus and Thyestes continued by their sons • Thyestes + daughter Pelopia = Aegisthus • Agamemnon becomes king of Mycenae, marries Clytemnestra • Their children: Iphigenia, Electra, Orestes; [Chrysothemis]

Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, and Aegisthus (2 of 2) • Agamemnon sacrifices Iphigenia at start of Trojan expedition • Furious Clytemnestra commits adultery with Aegisthus • Agamemnon returns from Troy with Cassandra • Both murdered by Clytemnestra and Aegisthus The Death of Agamemnon

Orestes and Electra (1 of 2) • With help of Electra, Orestes murders mother Clytemnestra and Aegisthus NB: Aeschylus’ Oresteia trilogy (p. 443 ff. ) is primary version for all that happens next: • Orestes pursued by Erinyes, goes to Delphi • Apollo orders him to go to Athens • There Orestes pleads case at Areopagus • Jury’s votes tied, Athena casts deciding vote for Orestes • Myth of Orestes ends with his ruling over Argos, Mycenae, and Sparta

Orestes and Electra (2 of 2) • Curse on House of Atreus comes to an end • Erinyes become Eumenides (Kindly Ones) • Development of law as vehicle for justice, vs. ancient blood-guilt and vengeance • The story of the House of Atreus is originally one of blood-guilt descending through generations