The Mycenaean Saga

1
Chapter 18

• The Mycenaean Saga

2
Mycenae

• The major Greek city in the late Bronze Age
  (1600-1100 BC).
• It controlled much of mainland Greece through
  alliance, and much of the Greek islands too.
• Linear B oldest form of written Greek found in
  Mycenae and Pylos.

3
Bloody Family History

• Tantalus Pelops
• Pelops Oenomaus
• Pelops Myrtilus
• Thyestes Atreus
• Atreus Thyestes
• Thyestes Pelopia
• Agamemnon Iphigenia
• Aegisthus Clytemnestra Agamemnon
• Orestes Clytemnestra Aegisthus

4
Tantalus Pelops

• How is it that a guy who dines with the gods
  tries to pull this kind of stunt?
• May allude to a time of human sacrifice
• Pindar denies it

5
Atreus Thyestes

• What a family betrayal, intrigue, infidelity,
  cannibalism and incest!
• If you eat at the House of Atreus, avoid any
  items listed as Specialties of the House, or
  boast a secret family recipe.

6
Agamemnon Iphigenia

• Again we have a sacrifice may point to a time
  of human sacrifice no longer acceptable.
• Lucretius On the Nature of Things an Epicurean
  view on the dangers of religion

7
Clytemnestra Aegisthus

• Motivation is partially valid Aegisthus and
  Clytemnestra are agents of the spirits of blood
  vengeance (the Furies), but

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Orestes

• Has a more valid case than Aegisthus
  Clytemnestra doesnt have another agenda.
• He is avenging his dad, and the king.
• Is pursued by the Furies, though.
• Will eventually be found not guilty.
• Orestes is not pursued by the Furies in all
  versions (cf. Sophocles Electra).

9
Aeschylus Oresteia (458 BC)

• Our only surviving dramatic trilogy from ancient
  Greece.
• Agamemnon
• The Libation Bearers (Choephori)
• Eumenides
• Shows the arc of the blood vengeance from Atreus
  through Orestes which is then supplanted by civic
  justice (Orestes is finally acquitted in a trial
  in Athens on the Areopagus)

10
Euripides Electra (c. 415 BC)

• Tells the story of Orestes return and his
  killing of Aegisthus and Clytemnestra.
• Is very reluctant to kill mother, bullied into it
  by his sister
• Emphasis is on the pathology of the house as
  represented by Orestes and Electra
• Also makes fun of Aeschylus archaic style and
  logic.

11
Sophocles Electra (c. 410)

• Date unclear, but probably after Euripides.
• Covers same material, but emphasis is on the
  heroic actions of Orestes and Electra settling
  accounts with their fathers murderers.
• No hint of guilt or madness.
• Play emphasizes the long suffering of Electra,
  waiting for her brother. Sophocles Electra is
  the hero(ine) who wont bend or submit.