Brian Barton
In Aeschylus' play Agamemnon, the eponymous character is a king whose actions are driven by the belief that consequences do not apply to him. This is exemplified by his decision to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia, which the chorus describes as a murder that will pollute him. The theme of pollution is also present in the character of Clytemnestra, who is said to be polluted after killing her husband, Agamemnon. The hearth, a symbol of the sacred, is also connected to issues of pollution and purification, further emphasising the role of pollution in the play.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pollution's role in Agamemnon | The hearth is a sacred place, symbolizing the political life of Greek communities. Agamemnon's death at the hearth of a "royal" relative carries a miasmic meaning. |
| Who is Agamemnon? | A king of Mycenae, son of King Atreus and Queen Aerope, brother of Menelaus, husband of Clytemnestra, and father of Iphigenia, Electra, Orestes, and others. |
| Agamemnon's Death | Killed by Clytemnestra, or in older versions, by Clytemnestra's lover Aegisthus. |
| Aeschylus' Play | Clytemnestra is warned that she is polluted after killing Agamemnon. |
| Aeschylus' Innovations | Aeschylus decreased the size of the chorus from 50 to 12, making it more manageable while still impressive. |
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What You'll Learn
Agamemnon's murder of Iphigenia
In Greek mythology, Iphigenia was the daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra of Mycenae. Agamemnon offended the goddess Artemis on his way to the Trojan War by hunting and killing one of her sacred stags. In retaliation, Artemis prevented Agamemnon's fleet from sailing to Troy.
Agamemnon was told by the seer Calchas that he had angered Artemis and that she would not allow the fleet to sail until he sacrificed his daughter, Iphigenia, to her as a human sacrifice. Agamemnon initially lied to Clytemnestra, telling her that Iphigenia was to be married to Achilles before he left for the war. Clytemnestra believed the lie and sent Iphigenia to Aulis, where Agamemnon's fleet had gathered.
When Clytemnestra and Iphigenia arrived at Aulis, they discovered the truth about the impending sacrifice. Achilles, who had been used by Agamemnon in his plot, vowed to help prevent the murder of Iphigenia. However, Agamemnon's brother Menelaus, whose wife Helen was the cause of the impending war with Troy, believed that sacrificing Iphigenia was necessary to prevent a mutiny and the destruction of the Greek army.
Agamemnon ultimately chose to sacrifice his daughter, earning the undying hatred of his wife. In some versions of the story, Iphigenia dies at Aulis, while in others, she is rescued by Artemis at the last moment. The sacrifice of Iphigenia is cited as one reason for Clytemnestra's subsequent murder of Agamemnon, with the help of her lover, Aegisthus.
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Clytemnestra's pollution
The chorus describes the gruesome imagery of a "river of blood" flowing out of the palace, including the blood of Thyestes' children, Iphigenia, and later, Cassandra and Aegisthus. This imagery underscores the idea of pollution caused by Clytemnestra and her accomplices.
Clytemnestra's actions are driven by her desire for revenge and her sympathy for the victims of Agamemnon's conquests. However, her pollution is ultimately a result of her transgression against the societal norms and sacred values of ancient Greek culture.
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Agamemnon's death at the hearth
In Greek mythology, Agamemnon was a king of Mycenae who led the Achaeans during the Trojan War. He was the son or grandson of King Atreus and Queen Aerope, and brother of Menelaus. Agamemnon was killed upon his return from Troy by Clytemnestra, or in an older version of the story, by Clytemnestra's lover Aegisthus.
In Aeschylus' "Agamemnon," Clytemnestra is portrayed as dominating the stage action throughout most of the play. She controls all the action until her murder of Agamemnon, after which she naively believes they can all live happily ever after. However, the chorus declares her polluted, and for the first time in the play, they know more than she does.
Agamemnon's death is seen as a consequence of his actions, driven by the idea that consequences did not apply to him. This trait is consistent throughout his characterisation across various plays and poems. Agamemnon's decision to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia is also seen as a factor leading to his death, with the chorus describing it as a murder repugnant to any normal human being.
The death of Agamemnon at the hearth, therefore, serves as a pivotal moment in the narrative, carrying symbolic weight and contributing to the overall theme of consequences and pollution.
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Agamemnon's disregard for xenia
Xenia, the ancient Greek concept of hospitality, was considered extremely important in ancient times. Hospitality towards foreign Hellenes honoured Zeus Xenios (and Athene Xenia), patrons of foreigners. Xenia was so important because it was believed that gods mingled among people, and one risked incurring the wrath of a god disguised as a stranger if one did not uphold the rituals of hospitality.
In the Odyssey, Agamemnon's disregard for Xenia is evident in his treatment of his warriors. He is described as ruling over many noble men in Troy, and is referred to as "shepherd of the people", recalling his role as the paramount leader of the Achaian host. However, his arrogance and belief that consequences do not apply to him lead him to make disastrous decisions that nearly cost the Achaian army their mission. For example, Agamemnon's nearly disastrous call for a nostos, or retreat, shows his poor leadership and disregard for the morale of his troops.
Agamemnon's death at the hearth of a "royal" relative is significant in the minds of both Homer and his core audience. The hearth symbolises the political life of Greek communities, and Agamemnon's death at the hearth carries miasmic meaning, representing the pollution and purification that result from his actions.
Overall, Agamemnon's disregard for Xenia, both in his public and private life, contributes to his characterisation as a leader who fails to learn from his predecessors and understand how his actions will have consequences.
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The curse of the House of Atreus
The House of Atreus, to which Agamemnon belongs, is cursed by the furies to bouts of murder and cannibalism. The curse is a result of the actions of Tantalus, Agamemnon's ancestor, and is continued by Atreus, Agamemnon's father. Atreus murders the sons of his twin brother, Thyestes, and feeds them to Thyestes after discovering Thyestes' adultery with his wife Aerope. Thyestes' daughter, Pelopia, fathers a son with her own father, and this son, Aegisthus, vows revenge on Atreus' children.
Aegisthus kills Atreus, and takes possession of the throne of Mycenae, jointly ruling with his father, Thyestes. Agamemnon and his brother Menelaus take refuge with Tyndareus, King of Sparta, and marry his daughters, Clytemnestra and Helen, respectively. In some stories, Clytemnestra is already married to Tantalus, and Agamemnon murders him and their infant son before marrying Clytemnestra.
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Frequently asked questions
In Aeschylus' Agamemnon, the chorus describes Clytemnestra as "polluted" after she kills her husband, Agamemnon. This is due to the belief in ancient Greece that wife-killing was worse than a kyrios (a father or husband) killing his child.
Pollution, or ritual impurity, was a significant concern in ancient Greek society, particularly in relation to sacred places and rituals. Purification rituals were often performed to remove pollution and restore balance.
The hearth was considered a sacred place in ancient Greece, symbolizing the political life of Greek communities. Agamemnon's death at the hearth of a "royal" relative is therefore seen as a polluting act, carrying miasmic meaning for both the oikos (family) and the nascent Greek polis (city-state).
While the chorus describes Clytemnestra as polluted due to her act of wife-killing, it can be argued that Agamemnon himself is polluted by his decision to sacrifice his daughter, Iphigenia. This act is described as "repugnant to any normal human being" and is seen as a perversion of normal feelings.
The theme of pollution in Agamemnon extends beyond the immediate actions of the characters. The play explores the idea of a cursed family, with references to cannibalism, murder, and revenge. The house of Atreus, to which Agamemnon belongs, is depicted as tainted by these acts of violence and transgression.
