AGAMEMNON By Jessica Myers

Background ■He was the son of Atreus (Hunter) ■King of Mycenae (“Agamemnon”) ■His brother was Menelaus (“Agamemnon”) ■He married Clytemnestra (“Agamemnon”)

His story… ■“When Paris (Alexandros), son of King Priam of Troy, carried off Helen, Agamemnon called on the princes of the country to unite in a war of revenge against the Trojans” (“Agamemnon”). ■“The fleet assembled at the port of Aulis in Boeotia but was prevented from sailing by calms or contrary winds that were sent by the goddess Artemis because Agamemnon had in some way offended her” (“Agamemnon”).

The sacrifice ■“To appease the wrath of Artemis, Agamemnon was forced to sacrifice his own daughter Iphigeneia” (“Agamemnon”). –“Agamemnon reluctantly agreed to the sacrifice, but Artemis herself whisked Iphigenia away from the altar and substituted a deer in her place” (Hunter).

The War ■“During the siege of Troy, Agamemnon offended the greatest of the Greek warriors, Achilles, when he took the girl Briseis from him” (Hunter). ■“After the capture of Troy, Cassandra, Priam’s daughter, fell to Agamemnon’s lot in the distribution of the prizes of war” (“Agamemnon”).

Unhappy Homecoming ■In the meantime, “Aegisthus had become the lover of Clytemnestra, and the two together murdered Agamemnon and Cassandra shortly after their arrival” (Hunter). ■“The murder was avenged by Orestes, who returned to slay both his mother and her paramour” (“Agamemnon”).

How does he know Odysseus? ■Odysseus was one of the “princes” who were called upon to fight in the Trojan War. ■Odysseus gives Agamemnon the idea to build the Trojan Horse so that the Greeks could win the Trojan War.

Works Cited "Agamemnon." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., Web. 02 Dec Hunter, James. “Agamemnon.” Encyclopedia Mythica. MMIX Encyclopedia Mythica, 30 Nov Web. 02 Dec