Netherlands/Greece: ‘The Sacrifice of Iphigenia’. Oil on canvas painting by Jan Havicksz Steen (1625/1626 - 23 February 1679), 1671. When Helen was abducted - or seduced - by Paris, starting the Trojan war, Agamemnon, king of Mycenae and Helen's brother-in-law, led the Greek war effort as commander of the fleet. In order to summon up winds to propel his ships, he was forced to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia to the goddess Artemis, whom he had offended. This eventually led to his downfall. Clytaemnestra never forgave him for the death of their daughter and took her revenge years later.
In Greek mythology, Agamemnon was the king of Mycenae, or Argos. He and his brother Menelaus were also known as 'Atrides', the sons of Atreus. Agamemnon had four children by his wife Clytaemnestra. Menelaus was married to Clytaemnestra's sister, Helen. When Helen was abducted—or seduced—by the Trojan Paris, the result was the Trojan war. Agamemnon was a central player in the war as both commander of the Greek fleet and Helen's brother-in-law. In order to summon up winds to propel his ships, he was forced to sacrifice his daughter Iphigeneia to the goddess Artemis. This eventually led to his downfall. Clytaemnestra never forgave Agamemnon for the death of her daughter and took her revenge years later when he returned from Troy.
Size: 4788px × 3711px
Photo credit: © Pictures From History / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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