Iphigenia

Lore & Background

Years later, Iphigenia's brother Orestes, pursued by the Erinyes for killing their mother Clytemnestra, was sent by Apollo to Tauris to retrieve a cult image of Artemis. There, Orestes and his friend Pylades were captured by the Tauri, who sacrificed Greek strangers to Artemis. Iphigenia, as priestess, was to perform the sacrifice. She and Orestes did not initially recognize each other, leading to a dramatic recognition scene.

Reader's Guide

Iphigenia's story is central to Greek mythology, illustrating themes of sacrifice, divine will, and family tragedy. Her sacrifice at Aulis is a pivotal event that enables the Trojan War, and it serves as a key motive for Clytemnestra's later murder of Agamemnon in Aeschylus's Oresteia. The ambiguity of her fate—whether she died or was rescued—reflects the flexibility of mythic tradition. Euripides explored both outcomes in his plays Iphigenia at Aulis and Iphigenia in Tauris, the latter focusing on her later life as a priestess and her reunion with Orestes. The name Iphigenia means 'strong-born' or 'born to strength,' and variants such as Iphianassa and Iphimede appear in early sources, suggesting her figure may have originated as a divine being later incorporated into the House of Atreus. Her story has inspired countless works of art, literature, and opera, and remains a powerful symbol of personal sacrifice for a greater cause.

Did You Know?

• The name Iphigenia means 'strong-born,' 'born to strength,' or 'she who causes the birth of strong offspring.'
• In Homer's Iliad, Agamemnon's daughter is called Iphianassa, which may be an older variant of Iphigenia.
• In some versions, Artemis rescued Iphigenia by substituting a deer or a goat at the altar.
• Pausanias mentions poets claiming Iphigenia was the daughter of Helen by Theseus, raised by Clytemnestra.