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 ( Ancient Greek: Ἰφιγένεια, Iphigeneia) was a daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra, and thus a princess of Argos. Agamemnon offends the goddess Artemis, who retaliates by commanding him to kill Iphigenia as a sacrifice so his ships can sail to Troy. In some versions, Iphigenia is sacrificed at Aulis, but in others, Artemis rescues her. In the version where she is saved, she goes to the Taurians and meets her brother Orestes.

"Iphigenia" means "strong-born," "born to strength," or "she who causes the birth of strong offspring."

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