House Of Mycenae

Question 1

Pelops had two sons, what were their names? Which one became king of Mycenae?

Answer 1

Thyestes and Atreus

Atreus becomes king of Mycenae

Question 2

What were the names of Atreus’ sons?

Answer 2

Menelaus and Agamemnon

Question 3

Who was Menelaus

Answer 3

King of Sparta and husband of Helen

Question 4

Who was Agamemnon

Answer 4

King of Mycenae and leader of Greeks during the Trojan war. Husband of Clytemnestra

Question 5

Who were the children of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra

Answer 5

Iphigenia, Electra and Orestes

Question 6

Which 3 playwrights tell the story of the house of Mycenae?

Answer 6

Sophocles (Electra)

Aeschylus (Oresteia: Agamemnon, libation bearers, Eumenides)

Euripides (Iphigenia and Electra)

Question 7

Pelops

Answer 7

Lover of Poseidon

Poseidon helps him to become king of Pisa

Question 8

How does Pelops bring the curse upon his descendants, the kings of Mycenae?

Answer 8

He cheats in a chariot race and kills a king during a contest for the Kings daughter’s hand in marriage. He bribes the Kings charioteer, but later goes back on his word and Pelops throws him from a cliff. As he is falling, the charioteer curses Pelops and his family.

Question 9

What does Atreus hide from Artemis?

Answer 9

A golden lamb that he promised to sacrifice to her, but instead he hides it with his wife.

Question 10

How does Atreus get the throne back from his brother thyestes?

Answer 10

When Atreus demand the throne back, Thyestes tells him he can have it “when the sun travels backward in the sky.” Zeus overhears and commands the sun god to drive his chariot of the sun in the opposite direction.

Question 11

After Atreus has his sons killed, what does Thyestes do? Why does he need a son?

Answer 11

He rapes his daughter and she becomes pregnant with Aegisthus. The Pythia told Thyestes that his vengeance will only come through his son.

Question 12

How does Aegisthus get revenge on Agamemnon?

Answer 12

He seduces Agamemnon’s wife, Clytemnestra and they take over his throne when he is fighting in Troy. Clytemnestra kills Agamemnon when he returns from war.

Question 13

Before the Greeks set sail for Troy, something happens that delays them, what is it?

Answer 13

Agamemnon kills a deer in Artemis’ sacred grove, and draws her wrath. Artemis halts the winds and prevents them from sailing.

Question 14

Who was the founder of the house of Mycenae?

Answer 14

Pelops, son of Tantalus

Question 15

Why does Clytemnestra turn against Agamemnon?

Answer 15

He sacrificed their daughter to Artemis.

Question 16

Orestes

Answer 16

Son of Agamemnon
Exiled by Aegisthus
Eventually returns to avenge his father
He kills Aegisthus and Clytemnestra
He is tortured by the furies until he is saved by Apollo.
He is put on trial in Athens for the murder of his mother. He is defended by Apollo, the furies are the prosecution and Athena is judge. Athena decides in his favor.