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Iphigenia

Orestes and Iphigenia mosaic Roman , ^Second - ^third century , Capitoline Museums ( Rome )

In Greek mythology , Iphigenia (in ancient Greek / or Iphianassa in Homer (), is the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra , and sister of Orestes , to Electra and Chrysothemis , therefore subject to yoke of the curse of Atreus. According to another legend, she was the daughter of Theseus and Helen entrusted by his mother Clytemnestra to appear blank to her husband, Menelaus.

Myth

Agamemnon has been designated by the coalition of Greek kings to lead the Greek troops against the city of Troy. Indeed, Menelaus, Agamemnon's brother, forced all the Greek kings to honor an oath and therefore help him get his wife, Helen removed by Pris , son of the king of Troy. Lorsqu'Agamemnon attempts to launch the Greek fleet gathered at Aulis to the shores of Troy, the winds are unfavorable. Calchas the soothsayer then reveals that an offense committed by Agamemnon cons Artemis is the cause and only the death of his daughter Iphigenia appease the anger of the goddess. Agamemnon refuses to sacrifice first, but led by Menelaus and Ulysses , he is resigned.

Agamemnon invented a ruse to attract Iphigenia at Aulis: Clytemnestra is made to say that Achilles refuses to leave if we do not give him the hand of Iphigenia. Once they reach the Achaean camp, Clytemnestra and Iphigenia eventually learn the sad fate reserved for him. Aware, however, the necessity of sacrifice vis--vis Greece, Iphigenia agrees to die. At the time of sacrifice, Artemis would, according to some writings, replaced last minute by a doe in order to preserve the folly of men, and would have made the priestess of her temple in Tauris. Clytemnestra, unlike his daughter, does not forgive Agamemnon and take revenge by killing the return of the Trojan War.

In Tauris , after his failed sacrifice, Iphigenia is priestess of Artemis (Artemis Tauropolos) and its function is to sacrifice all strangers who approach the region. Many years later, Orestes , Iphigenia's brother believes she died, and his friend Pylades address Tauris. Thus they obey the Delphic oracle who ordered them to carry the statue of Artemis. Iphigenia, recognizes and helps them escape with the statue. Prosecuted, they are helped by the goddess Athena and eventually return all three in Greece.