Iphigenia facts for kids

Orestes and Pylades brought before Iphigenia, Joseph Strutt (1749 - 1802), watercolour, Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco

In Greek mythology, Iphigenia was a princess of Argos. She was the daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra. Her name, "Iphigenia," means "strong-born" or "she who causes the birth of strong offspring."

Iphigenia is famous for a difficult story involving her father and the goddess Artemis. In this myth, King Agamemnon upset Artemis. To make up for this, Artemis demanded that Agamemnon sacrifice Iphigenia. This sacrifice was needed so his ships could sail to Troy for the Trojan War.

The Difficult Choice

King Agamemnon was preparing his ships to sail to Troy. But the winds stopped blowing, trapping his fleet. The prophet Calchas explained that the goddess Artemis was angry with Agamemnon. To calm her, Agamemnon had to sacrifice his own daughter, Iphigenia. This was a terrible choice for a father.

Her Fate: Sacrifice or Rescue?

There are different versions of Iphigenia's story:

The Sacrifice at Aulis

In some versions, Iphigenia was indeed sacrificed at a place called Aulis. This sad event allowed the winds to blow again. Agamemnon's ships could then finally sail to Troy. This version highlights the harsh demands of the gods in ancient myths.

Artemis's Rescue

In other, more hopeful versions, Artemis saved Iphigenia at the last moment. Just as the sacrifice was about to happen, Artemis replaced Iphigenia with a deer or another animal. She then took Iphigenia away in a cloud.

Life as a Priestess

After her rescue, Iphigenia was taken to a faraway land called Tauris. There, she became a priestess in Artemis's temple. Her job was to perform rituals for the goddess. Years later, her brother Orestes arrived in Tauris. He was on a quest and did not know his sister was alive. Iphigenia and Orestes recognized each other. They then planned their escape from Tauris together.

Iphigenia's story shows the power of the gods and the difficult choices heroes faced in Greek myths. It also shows themes of family, duty, and survival.

Images for kids

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  François Perrier's The Sacrifice of Iphigenia (17th century), depicting Agamemnon's sacrifice of his daughter Iphigenia

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  Mosaic, 5th-century CE. From left to right: Iphigenia, Clytemnestra, Agamemnon.

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  Iphigenia as a priestess of Artemis in Tauris sets out to greet prisoners, amongst which are her brother Orestes and his friend Pylades; a Roman fresco from Pompeii, 1st century AD

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  Orestes and Iphigéneia stealing the statue of Diana Taurique.

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  The Sacrifice of Iphigenia (1757) by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo

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  Iphigenia in Tauris (1893) by Valentin Serov

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  Iphigenie (1862) by Anselm Feuerbach

See also

In Spanish: Ifigenia para niños