She also believes that her death will be heroic, as it is for the good of all Greeks. One after the other the surgeon’s children are plagued with paralysis (a direct allusion to Agamemnon’s immobile armies) and the surgeon’s family is forced to sacrifice one of its members to atone for the accidental surgical killing. In fact the first trial in Athens was about such a crime. Kahil, L. (1991) "Le sacrifice d'Iphigénie" in: Kjelleberg, L. (1916) "Iphigenia" In: A.F. In the dramatist's version, the Taurians worshipped both Artemis and Iphigenia in the Temple of Artemis at Tauris. The story concerns the legendary sacrifice of Iphigenia by her father, Agamemnon. Iphigenia Daughter of Agamemnon J. Donald Hughes, "Goddess of Conservation. This is one of the sources of the stories of the sacrifice of Iphigenia and Polyxenia. But evidently the number of sailing ships greatly exceeded the number of oared galleys. But glorious for whom? Iphigenia finds out from Orestes, who is still concealing his identity, that Orestes is alive. In Aeschylus's Agamemnon, the first play in the Oresteia, the sacrifice of Iphigenia is given as one reason for Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus to plan to murder Agamemnon. Iphigenia at Aulis is the precursor to Iphigenia at Tauris and sets the background for the fate of Iphigenia. He sent Odysseus and Diomedes to his wife, Clytemnestra (who happened to be Helen’s sister), to tell her that he had arranged a marriage between their daughter, Iphigenia, and the hero Achilles and Achilles wished to marry her before he went off to fight. Iphigenia may have been an emanation of the dragon upon defeat. Artemis was upset because Agamemnon, who was a noted hunter, had killed a deer from the sacred forest of Artemis, and, to add insult to injury, had boasted that he was a greater hunter than the goddess. Hesiod, in his Catalog of Women, refers to her as Iphimede (Ἰφιμέδην). After they return to Greece—having been saved from dangers by Athena along the way—Athena orders Orestes to take the Xoanon to the town of Halae, where he is to build a temple for Artemis Tauropolos. Apollo orders Orestes—to escape persecution by the Erinyes for killing his mother, Clytemnestra, and her lover—to go to Tauris. But, why do Aegisthus and Clytemnestra kill Agamemnon? Meanwhile, the sacrifice of Iphigenia is a cloud over the marriage of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon and ultimately leads to his murder. Reluctant at first, Agamemnon was forced to agree in the end. Achilles then attempts to claim her as his wife, but she reminds him that "women are no good to you dead". There is also speculation that Iphigenia was actually the daughter of Helen and Theseus.[27]. The well-greaved Achaeans sacrificed Iphimede on the altar of golden-spindled noisy Artemis on the day when they were sailing on boats to Troy, to wreak vengeageance for the beautiful ankled Argive woman– a phantom: herself, the deer-shooting Arrow shooter had very easily saved and lovely ambrosia she dripped onto her head, so that her flesh would be steadfast forever.”. Her father had to sacrifice her to the goddess Artemis in order that the Achaean fleet, of which he was leader, might be delivered from the calm (or contrary winds) by which Artemis was detaining it at Aulis and proceed on its way to the siege of Troy. In some versions, such as Hyginus' Fabulae, Iphigenia is not sacrificed. Iphigenia was the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. [1], "Iphigenia" means "strong-born," "born to strength," or "she who causes the birth of strong offspring. An historical fiction about this incident can be found at click here. … The loss of innocent lives is a high price to pay, especially when one considers this war is over one woman. Clytemnestra kills Agamemnon as revenge for his sacrifice of their daughter Iphigenia to Artemis 10 years earlier. Iphigenia In Greek legend, daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra and sister of Electra and Orestes. Agamemnon may have battled a dragon and defeated the monster. In Greek mythology, Iphigenia (/ɪfɪdʒɪˈnaɪ.ə/; Ancient Greek: Ἰφιγένεια, Iphigéneia, [iːpʰiɡéneː.a]) was a daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra, and thus a princess of Mycenae. The full (rarely used) name of the fictional private investigator V. I. Warshawski, created by Sara Paretsky, is Victoria Iphigenia Warshawski. Their names are remembered, and they will live on in stories. • Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon, sister of Orestes, and priestess of Artemis • Orestes, son of Agamemnon, brother of Iphigenia • Pylades, cousin of Orestes and Iphigenia, a loyal friend of Orestes • Herdsman, the first messenger • Thoas, king of the Taurians • Messenger, servant of Thoas • Athena, go… Iphigenia Sacrificed. The decisions supports the notion that rape is a crime. Here, Agamemnon, the leader of the Greeks, accidentally kills a deer in a grove sacred to the goddess Artemis. [5] Artemis punishes Agamemnon by acting upon the winds, so that Agamemnon's fleet cannot sail to Troy. They may also have enslaved the sister of Perithous and the accomplice of Theseus. [citation needed], Many traditions arose from the sacrifice of Iphigenia. Favorite Answer Iphigenia is best known as the daughter Agamemnon, leader of the Greek forces at Troy, had to sacrifice in order to appease Artemis. Robert Graves suggests that the story about Artemis being mad at Agamemnon may be a misinterpretation of the facts. 1909–14. After Agamemnon sends a message to Clytemnestra informing her of Iphigenia's supposed marriage, he immediately regrets his decision and tries to send another letter telling them not to come. She is then sacrificed. The play revolves around Agamemnon, the leader of the Greek forces in the Trojan War, and his decision to sacrifice his own daughter, Iphigenia, in order to allow his troops to set sail and preserve their honour by doing battle against Troy. Many viewers have pointed out that Shireen has a close mythological precedent in Iphigenia, the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. Calchas the seer tells Agamemnon that to appease Artemis, he must sacrifice his eldest daughter, Iphigenia. The trial was the first to be held in Athens and it was held on the top of the Areiopagus before a court of the gods. To ask a question about this topic note the topic (Iphigenia) and Click here. Characters from left to right a. Achilles b. Clytemnestra c. Iphigenia d. Agamemnon 2. Other variants include her being rescued at her sacrifice by Artemis and transformed into the goddess Hecate. What Agamemnon does includes choices he has made but it also includes actions over which he has no control. English Poetry II: From Collins to Fitzgerald. Clytemnestra arrives at Aulis with Iphigenia and the infant Orestes. Why would they need wind if they could be rowed? As it was the expedition was to cost the lives of perhaps 100,000 men and women. The Hesiodic Catalogue of Women called her Iphimede (Ἰφιμέδη)[8] and told that Artemis transformed her into the goddess Hecate. In Greek mythology, Iphigenia appears as the Greek fleet gathers in Aulis to prepare for war against Troy. Decharme, P. "Iphigenia" In: C. d'Auremberg and E. Saglio. [6] Some sources claim that Iphigenia was taken by Artemis to Tauris (in Crimea) at the moment of the sacrifice, the goddess having left a deer in her stead,[7] or else a goat (actually the god Pan) in her place. Synopsis – Iphigenia at aulis Summary Back to Top of Page Dramatis Personae – Characters At the annual festival held there, in honor of Artemis, a single drop of blood must be drawn from the throat of a man to commemorate Orestes's near-sacrifice. Iphigenia says that she did not die willingly, nor was a hind sent to take her place. Calchas the seer tells Agamemnon that to appease Artemis, he must sacrifice his eldest daughter, Iphigenia. Kingdom of Mycenae in ancient Greece and Clytemnestra plead with Agamemnon to his. In front of a sacred deer Achillles before they left that she is being led to the concerns! Her brother is dead—a key point ) was Theseus punished, by,. King Agamemnon, the leader of the expedition is dead—a key point ) she will marry Achilles ’ from yegwa-. 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