Irlandos at 12:06, September 23, 2005

2005-09-23T12:06:10Z

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In [[Greek mythology]], King '''Atreus''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: Ατρεύς, '''Atreús''') ("fearless") of [[Mycenae]] was the son of [[Pelops]] and [[Hippodamia]] and father of [[Agamemnon]] and [[Menelaus]]. Atreus and his twin brother, [[Thyestes]], were exiled by their father for having murdered their step-brother, [[Chrysippus]] in their desire for the throne of [[Olympia]]. They took refuge in [[Mycenae]], where they ascended to the throne upon the absence of King [[Eurystheus]], who was fighting the [[Heracleidae]]. Eurystheus had meant for their lordship to be temporary; it became permanent due to his death in conflict.

Atreus vowed to sacrifice his best lamb to [[Artemis]]. Upon searching his flock, however, Atreus discovered a golden lamb which he gave to his wife, [[Aerope]], to hide from the goddess. She gave it to her lover, [[Thyestes]] (also Atreus' brother), who then convinced Atreus to agree that whoever had the lamb should be king. Thyestes produced the lamb and claimed the throne.

Atreus retook the throne using advice he received from [[Hermes]]. Thyestes agreed to give the kingdom back when the sun moved backwards in the sky, a feat that [[Zeus]] accomplished. Atreus retook the throne and banished Thyestes.

Atreus then learned of Thyestes' and Aerope's adultery and plotted revenge. He killed Thyestes' sons and cooked them, save their hands and feet. He served Thyestes his own sons and then taunted him with their hands and feet.

An [[oracle]] then advised Thyestes that, if he had a son with his own daughter ([[Pelopia]]), that son would kill Atreus. Thyestes did so and the son, [[Aegisthus]], did kill Atreus. However, when Aegisthus was first born, he was abandoned by his mother, ashamed of her incestuous act. A shepherd found the infant Aegisthus and gave him to Atreus, who raised him as his own son. Only as he entered adulthood did Thyestes reveal the truth to Aegisthus, that he was both father and uncle to the boy. Aegisthus then killed Atreus.

According to some sources, Atreus was the father of [[Plisthenes]]. More commonly though, they were brothers.

== Spoken-word myths - audio files ==

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
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! style="background:#ffdead;" | Atreus myths as told by story tellers
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|[[Media:Laius and Chrysippus wiki.ogg|'''1. Crime and banishment of Atreus: the Laius and Chrysippus myth,''' read by Timothy Carter]]
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|Bibliography of reconstruction: [[Pindar]], ''Olympian Ode,'' I (476 BCE); [[Apollodorus]] ''Library and Epitome'' 3.5.5 (140 BCE); [[Hyginus]], ''Fables,'' 85. Chrysippus; 243. Women who Committed Suicide (1st c. CE); [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Description of Greece,'' 9.5.5-10, 6.20.7 (c. 160 - 176 CE); [[Athenaeus]], ''The Deipnosophists,'' Book XIII, 602 (c. 200 CE); [[Clement of Alexandria]], ''Exhortation to the Greeks,'' ii, 34, 3 - 5 (150 - 215 CE)
|-
|}

== Sources ==
[[Apollodorus]], [[Epitome]] II, 10-16; [[Euripides]]. [[Electra]].

[[Category:Greek mythological people]]

Atreus - Revision history

Irlandos at 12:06, September 23, 2005