ATREUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Atreus was a king of Mycenae in Greek mythology, a member of the cursed line of Tantalus, and father of Agamemnon and Menelaus.
Atreus Son of Pelops
Atreus was one of the many sons of Pelops and Hippodamia, and therefore grandson of Tantalus; potentially Atreus had as many as 15 siblings, but Atreus would be most closely associated with his brother Thyestes.
Atreus and the Death of Chrysippus
The life of Atreus was arguably already cursed by the actions of his grandfather Tantalus, who had tried to serve his own son Pelops to the gods as a meal, and also the actions of Pelops himself, who had killed Myrtilus. Nevertheless, Atreus would grow up quite happily in the kingdom of Pelops, but then this happy situation was altered through the actions of his own mother Hippodamia.
Pelops had fathered a son, Chrysippus, by a woman other Hippodamia, and Chrysippus soon became the favourite son of the king. Hippodamia now feared that Chrysippus would be chosen as heir in place of one of her own sons.
Hippodamia tried to convince Atreus and Thyestes to do away with their half-brother. Now some ancient writers claim that Atreus did kill Chrysippus, whilst others say he refused, and so instead Hippodamia did the deed, and tried to blame Laius for the killing of Pelops favoured sons. Chrysippus would live long enough though to exonerate Laius, and so blame was placed on Hippodamia, Thyestes and Atreus.
The three conspirators, if Atreus and Thyestes, were indeed involved in the killing were sent into exile into the kingdom of Mycenae.
Pelops had fathered a son, Chrysippus, by a woman other Hippodamia, and Chrysippus soon became the favourite son of the king. Hippodamia now feared that Chrysippus would be chosen as heir in place of one of her own sons.
Hippodamia tried to convince Atreus and Thyestes to do away with their half-brother. Now some ancient writers claim that Atreus did kill Chrysippus, whilst others say he refused, and so instead Hippodamia did the deed, and tried to blame Laius for the killing of Pelops favoured sons. Chrysippus would live long enough though to exonerate Laius, and so blame was placed on Hippodamia, Thyestes and Atreus.
The three conspirators, if Atreus and Thyestes, were indeed involved in the killing were sent into exile into the kingdom of Mycenae.
Atreus and Aerope
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The kingdom of Mycenae was probably ruled at the time by Sthenelaus, a son of Perseus, who happened to be married to a sister of Atreus, Nicippe; Sthenelaus having seized the throne when his brother Electryon had accidentally been killed by Amphitryon.
In Mycenae, Atreus would marry Aerope, the daughter of King Catreus of Crete. Aerope was one of the daughters of Catreus, alongside Clymene, who had been given to Nauplius, to sell into slavery, so that Catreus might avoid a prophecy about his own death. Atreus would become father to three children by Aerope, sons, Agamemnon and Menelaus, and a daughter, Anaxibia. Aerope though would prove not to be a faithful wife to Atreus, for the daughter of Catreus would also become the mistress of Thyestes. Atreus and EurystheusIn the time when Atreus and Thyestes were in Mycenae, the throne would pass from Sthenelaus to his own son Eurystheus, who ruled for a number of years. This is the same Eurystheus who would set Heracles his Labours.
Eurystheus would subsequently leave the governing of Mycenae to Atreus and Thyestes when he led his army on an expedition to kill all of the descendants of Heracles. Eurystheus though would lose his own life outside of Athens, falling in battle with the Heraclides. |
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Atreus and the Golden Lamb
The death of Eurystheus left the throne of Mycenae vacant, and an Oracle proclaimed that the people of Mycenae must now choose a son of Pelops as their new king.
Atreus and Thyestes would vie for the throne, and Atreus, thinking to gain favour from the gods, announced that he would sacrifice the finest of his flock to the goddess Athena. When Atreus looked amongst his flock though, he found that the finest lamb was a golden one, and now wishing to have the prized lamb for himself, decided to hide it, and sacrifice and inferior lamb its stead.
Atreus gave the golden lamb to his wife Aerope, who in turn passed it on to Thyestes. Thyestes now came up with an idea of how he might be named new king of Mycenae, and suggested that whoever had possession of a golden lamb should be king. Atreus of course willing agreed, believing that he had the golden lamb, but of course Thyestes was the son of Pelops who could produce it when called upon.
Atreus and Thyestes would vie for the throne, and Atreus, thinking to gain favour from the gods, announced that he would sacrifice the finest of his flock to the goddess Athena. When Atreus looked amongst his flock though, he found that the finest lamb was a golden one, and now wishing to have the prized lamb for himself, decided to hide it, and sacrifice and inferior lamb its stead.
Atreus gave the golden lamb to his wife Aerope, who in turn passed it on to Thyestes. Thyestes now came up with an idea of how he might be named new king of Mycenae, and suggested that whoever had possession of a golden lamb should be king. Atreus of course willing agreed, believing that he had the golden lamb, but of course Thyestes was the son of Pelops who could produce it when called upon.
Atreus Becomes King of Mycenae
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Atreus though appears to have been the favoured son of Pelops amongst the gods, for it was said that Hermes came to Atreus, and told him to make a new agreement with Thyestes, and that if the sun should travel in reverse then Atreus should be king. Thyestes believing this to be impossible agreed, but Zeus made it happen, and so Atreus was proclaimed king of Myecenae.
Atreus now sought revenge upon his adulterous wife and his brother, who had slept with Aerope. Thyestes was thus invited to a banquet, where Atreus resorted to an act that had seen his grandfather Tantalus given eternal punishment, for Atreus now served up the sons of Thyestes as a meal for his brother. |
Atreus Showing his Brother Thyestes the Heads of his Children - François Boucher (1703-1770) - PD-art-100
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Thyestes was oblivious to this until, Atreus showed his brother the uncooked fingers and toes of his own nephew. Atreus then banished Thyestes from Mycenae.
Aerope herself was said to have been thrown from a cliff by Atreus.
Aerope herself was said to have been thrown from a cliff by Atreus.
Atreus and Pelopia
The rule of Atreus was not a prosperous one for the land became barren, due to the actions of Atreus, and Atreus was forced to seek advice from the Oracle of Delphi, who proclaimed that the land could only produce again if Thyestes was returned to Mycenae.
At a similar time, the Oracle had told Thyestes that he would have his revenge upon Atreus if he fathered a son by his own daughter Pelopia.
So whilst Atreus searched for Thyestes, Thyestes was in Sicyon raping his own daughter, although she did not know who her attacker was.
Atreus would fail to find Thyestes but in Sicyon he found himself a new wife, for he fell in love with Pelopia, believing her to be the daughter of King Thesprotus rather than his own niece.
Atreus and Pelopia would return to Mycenae, and Pelopia would give birth to a son, Aegisthus, but this was not a son of Atreus, but was a son of Thyestes.
At a similar time, the Oracle had told Thyestes that he would have his revenge upon Atreus if he fathered a son by his own daughter Pelopia.
So whilst Atreus searched for Thyestes, Thyestes was in Sicyon raping his own daughter, although she did not know who her attacker was.
Atreus would fail to find Thyestes but in Sicyon he found himself a new wife, for he fell in love with Pelopia, believing her to be the daughter of King Thesprotus rather than his own niece.
Atreus and Pelopia would return to Mycenae, and Pelopia would give birth to a son, Aegisthus, but this was not a son of Atreus, but was a son of Thyestes.
Atreus and the Revenge of Thyestes
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Many years passed, Aegisthus grew into a young man, and Atreus, still searched for his brother to fulfil the prophecy of the Oracle.
Thyestes would eventually be found by the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus, in Delphi, and taking him prisoner, the sons of Atreus brought Thyestes back to Mycenae. The Oracle had said nothing about keeping Thyestes alive once he arrived back in Mycenae, and so Atreus now decided to kill his own brother, although he planned that Aegisthus do the deed, and so the son of Pelopia was sent to Thyestes prison cell. Atreus’ plotting would only bring about his own death though. Recognition would occur between Thyestes, Pelopia and Aegisthus, in the prison cell, and so instead of killing Thyestes, his own father, Aegisthus now plotted against Atreus. Believing that his brother was dead, Atreus now went down to the shoreline to make a sacrifice to the gods, and Aegisthus accompanied him. With no one else around, Aegisthus now used the sword that was meant to kill Thyestes upon Atreus. Thyestes was now restored to the throne of Mycenae, and the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus were sent into exile. |
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The House of Atreus
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