Is Iphigenia a virgin?
A tale recounted by Euripides was that the king of Mycenae had once made an unthinking vow, shortly before the birth of his daughter, which proved fatal to both of them: he had promised to sacrifice to Artemis “whatever the year produced that was the most beautiful.”11 Barely born, Iphigenia, a virgin of marvelous …
Why was Iphigenia sacrificed at Aulis?
When the Greek fleet is becalmed at Aulis, thus preventing movement of the expeditionary force against Troy, Agamemnon is told that he must sacrifice Iphigenia to appease the goddess Artemis, who has caused the unfavourable weather.
How was Iphigenia killed?
In the story, Agamemnon offends the goddess Artemis on his way to the Trojan War by hunting and killing one of Artemis’ sacred stags. She retaliates by preventing the Greek troops from reaching Troy unless Agamemnon kills his eldest daughter, Iphigenia, at Aulis as a human sacrifice.
How does Agamemnon convince Clytemnestra to bring their daughter to Aulis?
Agamemnon summons his wife Clytemnestra, telling her to bring Iphigenia to Aulis. (Sometimes the detail is included that Agamemnon tricks his wife and daughter into coming by saying that Iphigenia is to marry Achilles.) Clytemnestra is furious when she finds out why Agamemnon wants Iphigenia there. (Uh, yeah.
Is Iphigenia a goddess?
Iphigenia was then brought by Artemis to the city of Tauris where she became the goddess’ priestess.
What was Iphigenia doing in Aulis?
The play revolves around Agamemnon, the leader of the Greek coalition before and during the Trojan War, and his decision to sacrifice his daughter, Iphigenia, to appease the goddess Artemis and allow his troops to set sail to preserve their honour in battle against Troy….
| Iphigenia in Aulis | |
|---|---|
| Setting | Port of Aulis |
Who was Iphigenia and what is her tale?
Iphigenia was the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra in Greek mythology. While the Greek army was preparing to set sail for Troy during the Trojan War, Agamemnon caused the anger of the goddess Artemis, because he killed a sacred deer. So, she decided to stop all winds, and the ships would not be able to sail.
Did Artemis save Iphigenia?
The most popular version of what happened afterwards is that on the moment of the sacrifice, the goddess Artemis substituted Iphigenia for a deer, but Calchas who was the only witness remained silent. Iphigenia was then brought by Artemis to the city of Tauris where she became the goddess’ priestess.
How was Iphigenia saved?
In the play Iphigenia has been saved by the goddess Artemis from sacrifice and now serves the goddess’s temple at Tauris in Thrace. Her brother Orestes, who is still seeking to appease the Furies for his crime of matricide, is ordered by Apollo to obtain the statue of Artemis from Tauris and to return it to Athens.
What is the dilemma Agamemnon faces in Iphigenia at Aulis?
Agamemnon is the play’s protagonist and its complicated moral center. As leader of the Greek armies, his central dilemma is whether or not to sacrifice his daughter Iphigeneia to the goddess Artemis so that the winds might change and allow the armies to sail onward to Troy.
What is the significance of Agamemnon’s choice regarding Iphigenia?
It seems that Agamemnon has upset the goddess, Artemis, who in turn hampers Agamemnon’s efforts by holding the wind hostage unless he sacrifices his daughter, Iphigenia, in her honor. This should be an easy decision. No one in their right mind would sacrifice their child. It should be a ‘choice of evil over good.
What does the name Iphigenia mean?
of royal birth
The name Iphigenia is girl’s name of Greek origin meaning “of royal birth”. In mythology, Iphigenia was sacrificed by her father, Agamemnon — a difficult legacy to pass on to a daughter, and only one reason the name is hardly ever used.
How old is Iphigenia?
Written between 408, after Orestes, and 406 BC, the year of Euripides’ death, the play was first produced the following year in a trilogy with The Bacchae and Alcmaeon in Corinth by his son or nephew, Euripides the Younger, and won first place at the City Dionysia in Athens.
What is the meaning of Iphigenia?
Definition of Iphigenia : a daughter of Agamemnon nearly sacrificed by him to Artemis but saved by her and made a priestess.
Why does Iphigenia change her mind?
Menelaus wants to go to war to win back his wife, Helen, who was taken by the Trojan prince, Paris. Iphigenia is Menelaus’s niece, which is why he eventually changes his mind and does not want her sacrificed. However, his original attempts to persuade Agamemnon to sacrifice his daughter are accidentally successful.
Is Iphigenia a tragic hero?
“Iphigenia at Aulis“ (Gr: “Iphigeneia en Aulidi“) is the last extant tragedy by the ancient Greek playwright Euripides.
What is the theme of Artemis and Iphigenia myth?
The Greek Mythology in Iphigenia at Aulis While many Greek gods had their hands in the Trojan War, Artemis is the leading force of this play. Being the goddess of the hunt, children, animals, and young women, her themes in the play are easy to spot. The first of these themes is the sacrifice of a young woman.
Who did Iphigenia marry?
He lied to his daughter and his wife by saying that Iphigenia was to marry Achillles before they left. The mother and daughter happily went to the port of Aulis, only to find out the horrible truth.
Is Iphigenia dead?
In this telling of the tale, Iphigenia is not dead, and she meets with her brother. She is made a priestess in the temple of Artemis of the Taurians She recounts her story and tells how she arrived to the place by the hands of Artemis. Iphigenia conducts rites as a priestess to Artemis.