20-02-2013 21:14

The myth of the House of Atreus is the ultimate family tragedy that has deep roots in the previous generations, starting with the crime of Tantalus, Atreus’ grandfather and setting in train a vicious circle of ancestral crimes and revenge, till goddess Athena gave an end.

Tantalus was son of Zeus and wanted to prove that he was cleverer than them by serving them to eat the flesh of his own son Pelops. Demeter was the only one to eat but as soon as she realized what happened replaced the part she has savored by one of ivory. Tantalus was punished for his hubris into Tartarus in eternal torture by thirst and hunger, although he was standing in water and had food in front of him.  

Pelops returned to earth and decided to marry Hippodameia, daughter of Oinomaos. Pelops had to win the bride’s father to a horse race and for make his victory sure he corrupted Myrtilos, Oinomaos’ charioteer to help him win by promising him a night with his future wife. Myrtilos gained no advantage from his treachery, for Pelops killed him in his turn soon afterwards.

Pelops and Hippodameia had two sons, Atreus and Thyestes. After the death of Eurystheus, king of Mycenae, both brothers were equally anxious to win the throne. Atreus believed he had the advantage because a wonderful golden lamb had been born into his flocks. Thyestes seduced his brother’s wife Aerope and secretly stole it and therefore was acclaimed as king of Mycenae. Finally, by the guidance of the gods, Atreus became the king by persuading him to surrender the throne if sun will rise from the west. Gods made this happen and Thyestes was banished from Mycenae.

When Atreus later discovered that his wife had helped his brother and had stolen the lamb for him, he drowned her and asked from Thyestes to come back to Mycenae. Atreus killed three sons of Thyestes and served their flesh to their father. Thyestes ate the meat and Atreus showed him what he had eaten and sent him into exile once again.

According to the Delphic Oracle, Thyestes could only exact his vengeance on his brother through a son born of his own daughter. Therefore, he raped his daughter Pelopia, who bore Aegisthus. Aegisthus killed Atreus and restored Thyestes to the throne of Mycenae.

Agamemnon and Menelaus, the sons of Atreus, usually referred to as the Atreidai, returned in Mycenae when they were grown and, with the help of Tyndareus the King of Sparta, expelled Thyestes. Each of them married a daughter of Tyndareus. Agamemnon married Clytemnestra and became King of Mycenae; Menelaus married Helen and became King of Sparta.

Agamemnon, the leader of the Greek forces of the expedition to the Trojan War, was forced to sacrifice his own daughter, Iphigenia, in order the fleet could sail to Troy. While Agamemnon was at war, Clytemnestra invited Aegisthus back as her lover and king and when Agamemnon returned from Troy, they murdered him. The circle of revenge was broken finally by Orestes, son of Agamemnon, who killed her mother and her lover.

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