Atreus (mythology)
Atreus is a prominent figure in ancient Greek mythology, known primarily as the king of Mycenae and a key ancestor of influential heroes. His lineage traces back to the cursed royal family of Lydia, notably involving the notorious Tantalus, who committed horrific acts against his own son. Atreus, along with his brother Thyestes, vied for the throne of Mycenae, a struggle marked by deception and divine intervention. The oracle's guidance led to Atreus's ascendance as king, aided by what appeared to be a miraculous sign from Zeus. However, his reign quickly spiraled into a tale of vengeance after discovering his wife's infidelity with Thyestes, culminating in a gruesome act of revenge where he killed Thyestes's sons and served them to him.
The saga of Atreus is further complicated by the arrival of Aegisthus, whom Atreus believed to be his son, but who was actually Thyestes's offspring. This twist in the narrative ultimately leads to Atreus's demise, as Aegisthus betrays him, paving the way for Thyestes to reclaim the throne. Atreus's sons, Agamemnon and Menelaus, later emerge as significant figures in Greek mythology, particularly in the context of the Trojan War. Atreus's story embodies themes of family betrayal, revenge, and the inescapable nature of fate within Greek mythological traditions.
Atreus (mythology)
Atreus is a figure in the mythology of ancient Greece. Atreus gained the support of the gods to help him become king of Mycenae, although his life was marked by horrific crimes, betrayal, and revenge. Atreus’s sons Agamemnon and Menelaus went on to gain control of Mycenae and become legendary figures in their own right.
Overview
Ancient Greek myths provide a detailed and complex ancestry of Atreus. His line originated in the royal family of the kingdom of Lydia. The Lydian king Tantalus murdered and cooked his son, Pelops, in an attempt to trick the gods. When the gods discovered the ruse, they condemned Tantalus to eternal torment and restored Pelops to life. Pelops later rigged a horse race to allow him to marry Hippodamia, princess of the kingdom of Pisa. He ultimately became king of the region, which he named Peloponnesus in his own honor, and fathered two sons, Atreus and Thyestes.
Mycenae, the powerful kingdom of the Mycenaean people, needed a new ruler. An oracle advised the Mycenaeans to choose one of Pelops’s sons. Although Atreus was older and thus the likelier candidate, both brothers wanted this prestigious position and began to compete for it. Thyestes attempted to trick Atreus using a golden fleece he had acquired from Atreus’s wife. However, Atreus won over the Mycenaeans by appealing directly to the king of the gods, Zeus. Atreus claimed that Zeus supported him alone and would show his support by reversing the course of the sun. When this reversal actually occurred, the people were convinced, and Atreus became king of Mycenae.
Upon assuming kingship, one of Atreus’s first priorities was to exact revenge upon his brother. He learned that his wife, Aerope, had been having an affair with Thyestes and tried to help him become king instead of Atreus. Infuriated, Atreus invited Thyestes and his family to a feast at Mycenae. There, Atreus had Thyeste’s three sons killed, cooked, and served to Thyestes. When Thyestes learned what had happen, he placed a curse on Atreus and left Mycenae. Shortly after, while considering methods of gaining vengeance, Thyestes happened across a maiden at a stream and raped her. He did not realize that this was his own daughter, Pelopia, and she in turn did not learn his identity.
Atreus, still obsessed with destroying his brother, traveled to Thyestes’s kingdom. On the way, he encountered Pelopia, whom he ultimately married. Pelopia subsequently gave birth to Thyeste’s son, whom Atreus believed to be his own and named Aegisthus. Atreus already had two grown sons, Agamemnon and Menelaus, whom he enlisted to continue the hunt for Thyestes. Agamemnon and Menelaus finally captured Thyestes. Atreus commanded Aegisthus to behead Thyestes, but before this could occur, Aegisthus discovered his true identity as Thyestes’s son.
Aegisthus chose to spare Thyestes, but pretended he was dead. Atreus celebrated victory over his hated brother, but when his back was turned, Aegisthus stabbed him to death. This murder allowed Thyestes to assume Atreus’s place as the king of Mycenae and send Agamemnon and Menelaus into banishment. However, the brothers managed to raise an army of supporters and return to oust Thyestes and reclaim kingship over the Mycenaeans. They also went on to become central figures in the legendary conflict known as the Trojan War.
Bibliography
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