Elektra (disambiguation) facts for kids

Elektra (or Electra) is a name with different meanings. Most famously, Elektra is a princess from ancient Greek myths. She was the daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra. The name Elektra also refers to an asteroid and a star in space.

Who Was Elektra in Greek Myths?

Elektra is a famous character from Greek mythology. She is best known as the daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra. Agamemnon was a powerful king who led the Greek army in the Trojan War.

The ancient Greek alphabet did not have the letter 'C'. So, they spelled the name with a 'K', as in Elektra.

Elektra in Ancient Greek Plays

The story of Elektra and her family was very popular in ancient Greece. It was the subject of many famous plays called tragedies. These plays often showed difficult events and strong emotions.

Sophocles' Play: Elektra

Around 401 BC, a writer named Sophocles wrote a play called Elektra. In this story, King Agamemnon returns home from the Trojan War. He brings a new companion, Cassandra. His wife, Clytemnestra, and her lover, Aegisthus, then kill Agamemnon.

Clytemnestra believed her actions were fair. Before the war, Agamemnon had sacrificed their daughter, Iphigenia, because the gods commanded it. Elektra, Agamemnon's other daughter, saved her younger brother, Orestes. She sent him away to safety. The play begins years later when Orestes returns as a grown man. He plans to get revenge and claim his father's throne.

Euripides' Play: Elektra

Another famous writer, Euripides, wrote his version of Elektra around 415 BC. In this play, the story starts years earlier. King Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia to please the goddess Artemis. This allowed the Greek army to sail to Troy.

His wife, Clytemnestra, never forgave him for this. When Agamemnon came back from the war ten years later, Clytemnestra and her lover, Aegisthus, killed him.

The First Tragedies

The very first writer to create this type of tragedy was Aeschylus. He wrote a group of three plays called the Oresteia trilogy around 485 BC. These plays also told the story of Agamemnon's family.

Elektra in Space

The name Elektra is also used for objects in space.

130 Elektra

This is an asteroid. Asteroids are small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun. 130 Elektra is located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Electra (Star)

There is also a star named Electra. It is known as 17 Tauri. This star is part of a famous star cluster called the Pleiades.