Key Points

- King of Greece and powerful warrior

- Feud with Achilles costs the Greeks dearly

- Killed by wife after war for sacrificing their daughter

Brief Bio

Agamemnon was a legendary Greek king of Mycenae and a central figure in Greek mythology, especially known for his role in the Trojan War. As the commander of the Greek forces, he was renowned for his leadership, military skill, and pride. 

Agamemnon's family history had been tarnished by murder, incest, and treachery, consequences of the heinous crime perpetrated by his ancestor, Tantalus, and then of a curse placed upon Pelops, son of Tantalus, by Myrtilus, whom he had murdered. Thus misfortune hounded successive generations of the House of Atreus, until atoned by Orestes in a court of justice held jointly by humans and gods.

Son of King Atreus and Queen Aerope, Agamemnon was part of the powerful House of Atreus. His brother was Menelaus, king of Sparta, whose wife, Helen, was famously abducted by Paris, sparking the Trojan War. Agamemnon's leadership was vital to the Greek coalition’s efforts in the war, but his story is also marked by hubris, pride, and tragic conflict.

His most notable myth involves his conflict with the prophet Calchas, his quarrel with Achilles over the sacrifice of his daughter Iphigenia, and his eventual return home after the fall of Troy. His return was marred by tragedy— he was murdered by his wife, Clytemnestra, and her lover, Aegisthus, as revenge for the sacrifice of Iphigenia and other perceived slights.

Agamemnon’s story is a classic tale of heroism, pride, and tragedy, illustrating the perilous consequences of hubris and the destructive nature of family curses and revenge.