How is agamemnon murdered

Aegisthus was the son of Agamemnon's uncle, Thyestes, and Thyestes's daughter, Pelopia. Clytemnestra had installed herself up as the supreme queen while Agamemnon was away, but her bitterness increased when he returned from the war not repentant, but in the company of another woman, a concubine—a concubine, the Trojan prophetess-princess—as well as according to some sources his children borne by Cassandra.

Clytemnestra's vengefulness saw no bounds. Various stories tell different versions of the exact way Agamemnon died, but the essence is that Clytemnestra and Aegisthus murdered him in cold blood, out of vengeance for Iphigenia's death and other slights he had perpetrated against them.

Aegisthus and Clytemnestra, demonized in later Greek tragedy , ruled Mycenae for a time after dispatching with Agamemnon and Cassandra, but when her son by Agamemnon, Orestes, returned to Mycenae, he murdered them both, as beautifully told in Euripides's "Oresteia. Actively scan device characteristics for identification.

Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Once she arrives, Agamemnon handed her over to a priest. Clytemnestra attempted to intervene but the priest sacrificed Iphigenia upon an alter. Thus continues the pattern of slaughter and the curse of Atreus. Agamemnon spent 10 years fighting the Trojans and with the help of the gods and a certain wooden horse they were victorious.

But a lot had changed back in Greece, in particular in his kingdom of Mycenae. His wife had taken up with his cousin, Aegisthus, and together they ruled Mycenae. When Agamemnon returned in triumph, the people celebrated the return of their victorious king.

But, Aegisthus and Clytemnestra had other plans. Clytemnestra had a deep burning hatred for her husband and the unforgivable sacrifice of their daughter Iphigenia.

She could not forgive him and she wanted revenge. Aegisthus on the other hand, wanted to maintain his position of power as the lover of Clytemnestra.

When Agamemnon entered the palace the two of them cornered the king and stabbed him to death. The two of them assume power, but there were some who are not happy with what had happened. The son of Clytemnestra, Orestes, is furious at his mother and Aegisthus for killing his father. Both Clytemnestra and Aegisthus showed no guilt for what they had done. But he was too young to take revenge and his sister Electra helped him to escape from the kingdom.

Orestes grew up in a land far from Mycenae and he often plotted a return to avenge the murder. Over the years, he grew into a strong young man. Once he had trained in the art of fighting he returned to Mycenae. Mini Essays Suggested Essay Topics.

Bibliography Aeschylus and Agamemnon Background. Summary Lines Summary Once Cassandra goes, the Chorus fears for the King's safety. Commentary This section features Clytemnestra's moment of triumph.

Previous section Lines Next section Lines Test your knowledge Take the Lines Quick Quiz. Popular pages: Agamemnon. Take a Study Break. Another reason for the murder of Agamemnon is Clytaemnestra's love for Aegisthus. Although Aegisthus is a weak character in the play, his presence is often felt. She is being sarcastic in this passage, since she was never lonely as she had Aegisthus always at her side.

She relishes the thought that Agamemnon is coming to his death and that Aegisthus is right there to take his place. This is a very sarcastic statement to make as well. The truth is that Aegisthus would be more likely to rouse Clytaemnestra in the middle of the night than a gnat or even the memory of Agamemnon!

This demonstrates that Clytaemnestra is not thinking solely of herself when it comes to having power in Argos. Her love for Aegisthus contributed to her wanting to seize the throne from Agamemnon so that she can share the power with her partner. Cassandra in her manic speech brings up the curse saying that something dark and sinister dwells deep in the House of Atreus which must come to light.

What becomes apparent with this speech is the extent and grip the curse has on the House itself. The House is fated to fall with the death of Agamemnon. What is clear is that Cassandra is peering into the world of the curse. Aegisthus sees the curse as having a leveling effect, meaning it must come to avenge previous crime.

Aegisthus reminds us that the curse a deep, troubling reality for Agamemnon and his House. The curse is inescapable and that it will manifest itself with terrible, unavoidable vengeance.