Clytemnestra facts for kids
Clytemnestra (pronounced Kly-tem-NES-tra) was a famous queen in ancient Greek legends. She was the wife of Agamemnon, who was the King of Mycenae (or sometimes Argos). Together, they had four children: Iphigenia, Elektra, Orestes, and Chrysothemis.
Clytemnestra was the daughter of Tyndareus and Leda, who were the King and Queen of Sparta. According to one myth, the god Zeus visited Leda in the form of a swan. Leda then had four children: Castor, Clytemnestra, Helen, and Polydeuces (Pollux).
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Clytemnestra's Story and the Trojan War
After the long and famous Trojan War, King Agamemnon returned home. Clytemnestra, along with a man named Aegisthos, ended up killing Agamemnon. Later, Clytemnestra and Aegisthos were killed by her own son, Orestes. This part of the story is a very important and dramatic event in Greek mythology.
Clytemnestra in Famous Stories
Clytemnestra is a very important character in many ancient and modern stories.
The Oresteia Plays
She is one of the main characters in a famous set of plays called the Oresteia, written by a Greek writer named Aeschylus. This set of plays tells a sad and dramatic family story.
- In the first play, Clytemnestra kills Agamemnon.
- In the second play, she is killed by her son Orestes.
- Her death then leads to Orestes being put on trial in the final play.
Clytemnestra in Modern Art
Clytemnestra's story has inspired many artists over the years.
- The American dancer and choreographer Martha Graham created a long ballet (a type of dance show) about the queen in 1958. It was simply called Clytemnestra.
- In the 2003 TV miniseries Helen of Troy, Clytemnestra is played by an actress named Katie Blake. In this show, just like in the old myths, she kills Agamemnon. This is shown as her revenge for him sacrificing their daughter Iphigenia a long time ago.
Images for kids
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Murder of Agamemnon, a painting by Pierre-Narcisse Guérin.
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Clytemnestra, painted by John Collier in 1882.
See also
In Spanish: Clitemnestra para niños
