Irlandos at 11:29, March 27, 2006

2006-03-27T11:29:39Z

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In [[Greek mythology]], several persons were named '''''Electra''''' (also spelled '''''Elektra'''''):

# Daughter of [[Oceanus]] and [[Tethys (mythology)|Tethys]], mother of [[Dardanus]], [[Iasion]] and [[Harmonia]], by [[Zeus]].
# A [[Pleiades (mythology)|Pleiad]] or [[Oceanid]], mother of [[Iris]] and the [[Harpies]] by [[Thaumas]].
# (Most famous "Electra") Daughter of [[Agamemnon]] and [[Clytemnestra]]. Alternative: [[Laodice]]

According to the story, '''Electra''' (daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra) was absent from [[Mycenae]] when her father, King Agamemnon, returned from the [[Trojan War]] and was murdered by [[Aegisthus]], Clytemnestra's lover, and/or by Clytemnestra herself. Aegisthus and Clytemnestra also killed [[Cassandra]], Agamemnon's war prize, a prophet priestess of Troy.

Eight years later Electra returned from [[Athens]] with her brother, [[Orestes]]. (''[[Odyssey]]'', iii. 306; X. 542). According to [[Pindar]] (''Pythia'', xi. 25), Orestes was saved by his old nurse or by Electra, and was taken to [[Phanote]] on [[Mount Parnassus]], where King [[Strophius]] took charge of him.

In his twentieth year, Orestes was ordered by the [[Delphi|Delphic]] [[oracle]] to return home and avenge his father's death. According to [[Aeschylus]], he met Electra before the tomb of Agamemnon, where both had gone to perform rites to the dead; a recognition took place, and they arranged how Orestes should accomplish his revenge.

Orestes, after the deed (sometimes with Electra helping), goes mad, and is pursued by the [[Erinyes]], or [[Furies]], whose duty it is to punish any violation of the ties of family piety. Electra is not hounded by the Erinyes.

Orestes takes refuge in the temple at [[Delphi]]. Even though [[Apollo]] (to whom the Delphic temple was dedicated) had ordered him to do the deed, he is powerless to protect Orestes from the consequences of his actions.

At last [[Athena]] (also known as Areia) receives him on the [[Acropolis, Athens|Acropolis]] of [[Athens]] and arranges a formal trial of the case before twelve [[Attica|Attic]] judges. The Erinyes demand their victim; he pleads the orders of Apollo; the votes of the judges are equally divided, and Athena gives her casting vote for acquittal. In [[Iphigenia at Taurus]], Euripides tells the tale somewhat differently. He claims that Orestes is led by the Furies to Taurus in ancient Egypt, where his sister [[Iphigenia]] is being held. The two meet as Orestes is led to Iphigenia to be prepared for sacrifice to the Egyptian Gods. Iphigenia helps her brother escape from Taurus, and the furies, sated by the reuniting of the family, abate their persecution.

Later, Electra married [[Pylades]], Orestes' close friend and son of King Strophius (the same one who had cared for Orestes while he hid from his mother and her lover).

==Adaptations of the Electra story==

* The ''[[Oresteia]]'', a trilogy of plays by [[Aeschylus]]
* ''[[Electra (Sophocles)|Electra]]'', play by [[Sophocles]]
* ''[[Electra (Euripides)|Electra]]'', play by [[Euripides]]
* ''[[Elektra (1962 film)|Elektra]]'', film by [[Michael Cacoyannis]], starring [[Irene Papas]], based on Euripides.

{{Credit wikipedia}}

[[Category:Greek mythological people]]

Electra - Revision history

Irlandos at 11:29, March 27, 2006