Mycenaean Saga & House of Atreus

Question 1

Hippodamia

Answer 1

daughter of Oenomaus, king of Pisa

Question 2

Oenomaus

Answer 2

king of Pisa, in love with his own daughter. Races every suitor that comes to for his daughter, Hippodamia. Killed by Pelops

Question 3

Tantalus

Answer 3

Favorite among the gods, especially Zeus. Compared to ganymede(?). He killed his son Pelops and fed him to a number of gods. Was immediately sent to Hades

Question 4

Punishment of Tantalus

Answer 4

river too low to drink from, fruit tree to high to eat from. Must sit, tantalized for all eternity

Question 5

Pelops

Answer 5

restored to life by the gods after being killed by Tantalus. Gave name to Peloponnese, important sacrifice to him and Zeus

Question 6

Chariot race for the hand of Hippodamia

Answer 6

suitors for Hippodamia would come and race against Oenomaus , if he caught up to them, they would be killed

Question 7

Myrtilus

Answer 7

in other version, charioteer of Oenomaus. Was bribed with Hippodamia’s virginity, by Pelops to pull the lynchpins from the chariot so Oenomaus crashed and died. Myrtilus thrown of cliff by Pelops, and curses him. Origin of the

Question 8

Author of the Oresteia

Answer 8

Aeschylus, only

Question 9

Clytemnestra

Answer 9

wife of Agamemnon, ruled as regent. Taken as her lover Aegisthus

Question 10

House of Atreus

Answer 10

connected with Mycenae and Argos, the other cursed line (Laius being the other). Atreus is the son of Pelops

Question 11

Atreus and Thyestes

Answer 11

sons of Pelops, exiled to Mycenae for the murder of Chrysippus. serve as regents for Eurthysetes, both sons of Pelops.

Question 12

Oracle of Mycenae

Answer 12

Have one of Pelops sons as king

Question 13

Atreus and the fleece

Answer 13

had golden fleece, vowed it to Artemis, hid it, his wife, Aerope gave fleece to Thyestes. Owner of the golden fleece is king, Atreus is exiled.

Question 14

Resolution of Kingship of Mycenae

Answer 14

Zeus makes sun rise in west, set in the east. Such an omen, the Myceneans reverse their decision exile Thyestes and make Atreus king

Question 15

Atreus’ revenge

Answer 15

invites Thyestes back to a feast to make peace. kills Thyestes sons and serves them to him in the feast. Thyestes curses Atreus.

Question 16

Thyestes revenge

Answer 16

oracle: son by own daughter will kill Atreus. Thyestes doesnt have a daughter. He rapes a woman, who happens to be his daughter, pelopia, leaves sword.

Question 17

Pelopia

Answer 17

daughter of Thyestes. Has son by him, raised by his brother Atreus. Son is Aegisthus. Kills her.

Question 18

Aegisthus

Answer 18

son of Pelopia by her own father, Thyestes. Oracled to kill his father.

Question 19

Resolution of conflict between Thyestes and Atreus

Answer 19

Aegisthus, asked by Atreus (presumed father) to kill Thyestes after he is captured by Menelaus and Agamemnon. Goes and get Pelopia sword. Thyestes recognizes him, and so Aegisthus kills Atreus. The Dioscuri flee

Question 20

Set up for the Oresteia

Answer 20

Agamemnon and Menelaus return and exile Aegisthus

Question 21

Clytemnestra greets Agamemnon

Answer 21

Clytemnestra rolls out the red carpet for Agamemnon, Casssandra (agamemnon’s slave) protests b/c she knows she is going to get murdered. Agamemnon is killed by Clytemnestra

Question 22

dike

Answer 22

justice

Question 23

Orestes

Answer 23

son of Clytemnestra & agamemnon. Morally obligated to kill his father’s murderer, his mother.

Question 24

Electra

Answer 24

daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon. Recognizes Orestes’ recognition tokens.

Question 25

Orestes’ return

Answer 25

Orestes and Electra reunite. Orestes goes to the palace, assumes false identity, kills Aegisthus and Clytemenestra.

Question 26

Punishment of Orestes

Answer 26

followed by the furies, who drive him mad for the crime of Matricide

Question 27

Apollo’s intervention for Orestes

Answer 27

he transports him to Athens (strange to have a greek play change location)
he is tried by jury.

Question 28

Aeropagus

Answer 28

the courthouse of Athens where Orestes presideds

Question 29

The Trial of Orestes

Answer 29

the furies prosecute, Athena presides and Apollo defends. Jury comes to a tie, Athena acquits him.

Question 30

Erinyes

Answer 30

the furies

Question 31

Political significance of the trial of Orestes

Answer 31

Athens is the seat of this new judicial system. Orestes is freed from the crime of Matricide, freed from the old unyielding laws of old