IPHIGENIA

Iphigeneia (Ἰφιγένεια)

heroAulis · Artemis · Taurian priesthood · the substituted sacrifice
told after
 

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THE STORY

Calchas declared that the windbound fleet could not sail unless Agamemnon offered his fairest daughter. Lured to Aulis by a false promise of marriage to Achilles, Iphigenia was placed at the altar, but Artemis substituted a deer, carried her to Tauris, and made her priestess; some said the goddess made her immortal. 1

Hyginus begins after the rescue: Iphigenia serves as priestess in Tauris, recognizes Orestes and Pylades when they are brought for sacrifice, deceives King Thoas, and escapes with them and the image of Diana. 2

Apollodorus places Iphigenia among Agamemnon's daughters. Pausanias reports a different Argive tradition: Helen bore her to Theseus and gave the child to Clytemnestra, while later poets agreed that Theseus was her father. 3

BEYOND THE POETS

How the centuries since have seen Iphigenia — art, artifacts and echoes.

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