--- title: Agamemnon (Person) author: Mark Cartwright source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Agamemnon_(Person)/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 2023-03-30 --- # Agamemnon (Person) _Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_ [Agamemnon](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Agamemnon/) was the legendary king of [Mycenae](https://www.worldhistory.org/mycenae/) and leader of the [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) army in the [Trojan War](https://www.worldhistory.org/Trojan_War/) of [Homer](https://www.worldhistory.org/homer/)'s *Illiad*. Agamemnon is a great warrior but also a selfish ruler who famously upset his invincible champion [Achilles](https://www.worldhistory.org/achilles/), a feud that prolonged the [war](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) and suffering of his men. Agamemnon is a hero from [Greek mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Mythology/) but there are no historical records of a [Mycenaean](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mycenaean_Civilization/) king of that name. The Greek [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) was a prosperous one in the [Bronze Age](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Bronze_Age/), and there perhaps was a real, albeit much shorter, Greek-led attack on [Troy](https://www.worldhistory.org/troy/). Both these propositions are supported by archaeological evidence. Unfortunately, though, the famous [gold](https://www.worldhistory.org/gold/) mask found in a shaft [grave](https://www.worldhistory.org/burial/) at Mycenae and widely known as the 'Mask of Agamemnon' is dated up to 400 years before any possible Agamemnon candidate that fits a chronology of the Trojan War. ### Agamemnon's Family Agamemnon was the son of [Atreus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Atreus/), or perhaps grandson, in which case his father was Pleisthenes. His mother was Aerope, from [Crete](https://www.worldhistory.org/crete/) which provided a handy link between the [Mycenaean civilization](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mycenaean_Civilization/) of the Greek [Peloponnese](https://www.worldhistory.org/Peloponnese/) and the earlier [Minoan civilization](https://www.worldhistory.org/Minoan_Civilization/) of [Bronze](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/bronze/) Age Crete. He was married to Clytemnestra with whom he had three daughters. In one version these are Chrysothemis, Laodice and Iphianassa while in other, later versions they are Chrysothemis, [Electra](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/electra/) and Iphigeneia. Agamemnon was the brother of [Menelaos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Menelaus/), king of [Sparta](https://www.worldhistory.org/sparta/). ### King of Mycenae According to Homer, Agamemnon was given his king's sceptre and right to rule Mycenae and all the Achaean Greeks by [Zeus](https://www.worldhistory.org/zeus/) himself. Agamemnon is described as a great warrior and so is a worthy leader of men. According to Plato, his name derives from *menein* meaning 'to endure'. Mycenae, located 15 km from the sea in the northern Peloponnese, then prospered and Homer describes the city as a 'well-founded citadel', as 'wide-wayed' and as 'golden Mycenae'. This mythological prosperity is supported by the excavation of over 15 kilograms of gold objects recovered from the shaft graves in the fortified [acropolis](https://www.worldhistory.org/Acropolis/) which still dominates the plain today. Further excavations have also revealed that the city once covered 30,000 square metres and was first inhabited in [Neolithic](https://www.worldhistory.org/Neolithic/) times. [ ![Lion's Gate at Mycenae](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/337.jpg?v=1768137966) Lion's Gate at Mycenae Andreas Trepte, www.photo-natur.de (CC BY-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/337/lions-gate-at-mycenae/ "Lion's Gate at Mycenae")### The Trojan War – The Beginning Our main source of information on the Trojan War is Homer's epic mythological account in the *[Iliad](https://www.worldhistory.org/iliad/)*, written in the 8th century BCE but almost certainly based on a much older oral tradition. The ancient Greeks themselves considered the conflict to have been a real one and taken place in the 13th century BCE. The story came to represent the struggle of Greeks against foreign powers, and it told tales of a time when men were better, more able, and more honourable. After Homer, the Trojan War became a staple theme in Classical Greek and [Roman literature](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Literature/) and was revisited many times by writers in works such as [Aeschylus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aeschylus/)' *Agamemnon*, [Euripides](https://www.worldhistory.org/Euripides/)' *Trojan [Women](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/women/)*, and [Virgil](https://www.worldhistory.org/virgil/)'s *[Aeneid](https://www.worldhistory.org/The_Aeneid/)*. Later authors, especially Aeschylus, altered parts of the story, probably for dramatic effect on an audience all too familiar with it. Scenes from the conflict were also a favourite with visual artists for the next millennium. The war began when [Paris](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/paris/), a Trojan prince, abducted [Helen](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Helen/), wife of [Menelaus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Menelaus/), from Sparta. Paris regarded her as his rightful reward for choosing [Aphrodite](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aphrodite/) as the most beautiful goddess in a competition with [Athena](https://www.worldhistory.org/athena/) and [Hera](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hera/) at the wedding of Peleus and [Thetis](https://www.worldhistory.org/Thetis/). A furious Menelaus then appealed to his brother Agamemnon to create a coalition force of Greek warriors and rescue Helen from Troy. This Agamemnon did, and the force from such [cities](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) as [Athens](https://www.worldhistory.org/Athens/), Sparta, [Corinth](https://www.worldhistory.org/corinth/), [Rhodes](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rhodes/) and just about everywhere else across [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/) sailed in a huge fleet across the 'wine-dark sea' to [Anatolia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Asia_Minor/). Well, they would have done if Agamemnon had not upset the goddess [Artemis](https://www.worldhistory.org/artemis/) when he killed one of her sacred stags and then boasted he was a better hunter than the goddess, herself famous for her hunting skills. As punishment, Artemis becalmed the Greek fleet and only the sacrifice of Iphigeneia would appease the goddess into granting a fair wind to Troy. Agamemnon duly offered his daughter in sacrifice, but in pity and at the last moment, the goddess substituted a deer for the girl and made Iphigeneia a priestess at her sanctuary at Tauris. In Aeschylus' version, Agamemnon ruthlessly sacrifices his daughter, then still a child, and so guarantees his wife's eternal hatred and his own murder later on in the story. [ ![Myth of Iphigenia Mosaic, Empuries](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/5561.jpg?v=1773598158) Myth of Iphigenia Mosaic, Empuries Mark Cartwright (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/5561/myth-of-iphigenia-mosaic-empuries/ "Myth of Iphigenia Mosaic, Empuries")### Agamemnon Upsets Achilles Finally arriving at Troy, most of the next nine years was spent in the Greeks laying siege to the well-fortified city. Indecisive skirmishes ensued but, as the *Iliad* tells, the time was near for the decisive moments of the war. As Agamemnon roused his men thus, > Let every man of you prepare well for the fighting – put a good edge on your spears, and a good hang to your shields, give a good feed to your swift-footed horses, and cast a good eye over your chariots, so that we can run the trial of hateful [Ares](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ares/) all day long. (*Iliad*, Book 2, 380-384) However, after another inconclusive clash things finally got more interesting with a couple of one-on-one battles, first between Menelaus and Paris, and then [Ajax](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Ajax/) against Paris' brother Hector. Neither dual ended in a fatality. More skirmishes followed and in these Agamemnon excelled: > As when annihilating fire falls on a thick forest scrub, and the wind carries it billowing all over, and the bushes are brought down headlong in the flames' overwhelming onslaught, so the fleeing Trojans went down under Agamemnon, son of Atreus, and many strong-necked horses rattled empty chariots along the avenues of [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/), missing the noble charioteers they knew: but they lay dead on the ground, a sight now to gladden vultures, not their wives. (*Iliad*, Book 11, 155-162) Despite his prowess, Agamemnon was stabbed in the arm by Koon who paid for his strike with his head and the king retired to his camp. The next big event was when the Trojans attacked the Greek camp and set fire to their ships. Things were not going at all well for the Greeks and Agamemnon was largely to blame. For he had upset the Greek's greatest fighter Achilles when he pulled rank and stole the hero's female war-booty Briseis. As a result, Achilles went into a sulk and refused to fight. Agamemnon sent [Odysseus](https://www.worldhistory.org/odysseus/) to persuade Achilles to re-join the fighting on the promise of tremendous treasure. Achilles refused and it was only when his great friend [Patroclus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Patroclus/) was killed by Hector that he put on his armour and helped the Greeks regain the initiative in the war by killing Hector. The war still rumbled on, though, and it was only Odysseus' ruse of the Wooden Horse, which allowed the Greeks to get inside the city, which finally brought the fall of Troy. ### Agamemnon's Return Home & [Death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/) When Agamemnon returned to Mycenae in glory and with his prize, Trojan King Priam's daughter, Casssandra, he was, alas, killed by his jealous wife Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus while he was enjoying his coming-home banquet. In later versions of the story, Clytemnestra killed her husband in the bath with a knife. However, Agamemnon died, his fate was said to be a just punishment from the gods for outrageously demanding he share the spoils from Troy only 50/50 with them. In the dynastic squabbles so frequent in [Greek tragedy](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Tragedy/) Orestes, eight years after the event and inspired by [Apollo](https://www.worldhistory.org/apollo/), took revenge on his mother for her part in Agamemnon's murder. Orestes was then in turn tormented by the winged [Furies](https://www.worldhistory.org/Furies/), the spirits of punishment. Agamemnon is not quite finished with Greek [mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/mythology/), though, as he does pop up again when Odysseus travels to [Hades](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hades/) in Homer's *[Odyssey](https://www.worldhistory.org/Odyssey/)*. The dead king explains to Odysseus his downfall, > [Poseidon](https://www.worldhistory.org/poseidon/) did not wreck my ships with fearful squalls and tempestuous winds, nor did I fall to any hostile tribe on land. It was Aegisthus who plotted my destruction and with my accursed wife put me to death. He invited me to the [palace](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/palace/), he feasted me, and he killed me as a man fells an ox at its manger. That was my most pitiful end. (*Odyssey*, Book 11, 406-413) ### The Trojan War in [Archaeology](https://www.worldhistory.org/Archaeology/) A conflict between Mycenaeans and [Hittites](https://www.worldhistory.org/hittite/) in Anatolia may well have occurred in the late Bronze Age and archaeological excavations at Troy have revealed that Troy VI (c. 1750-1300 BCE), one of many layers in the site's history, is the most likely candidate for the besieged city of Homer's Trojan War. Impressive fortification walls which are 5 metres thick and 8 metres high and include several towers certainly fit the Homeric description of 'strong-built Troy'. The lower town covers an impressive 270,000 m² protected by an encircling rock-cut ditch and suggests a grand city like the Troy of tradition. [ ![The Trojan Horse](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/1215.jpg?v=1772130610) The Trojan Horse Tetraktyas (CC BY-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/1215/the-trojan-horse/ "The Trojan Horse")Troy VI was also partially destroyed, with evidence of fire and, intriguingly, bronze arrowheads, spear tips, and slingshots have been found embedded in the fortification walls, strongly suggesting some sort of conflict. The dates of these (c. 1250 BCE) and the site destruction correlate with [Herodotus](https://www.worldhistory.org/herodotus/)' dates for the Trojan War. It is extremely unlikely that homer's 10 year-conflict really occurred but the myth may well have been based on smaller, more repeated conflicts between the Mycenaeans and Hittites as they battled for control of lucrative [trade](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/trade/) routes in the [Aegean](https://www.worldhistory.org/aegean/). ### The [Tomb](https://www.worldhistory.org/tomb/) & Mask of Agamemnon The so-called 'Death mask of Agamemnon', which is a beaten gold funeral mask from Grave Circle A, at Mycenae dates to the mid-16th century BCE. The mask, one of five in fact, therefore, predates Agamemnon by 400 years but nevertheless remains solid evidence of Homer's description of Mycenae as 'rich in gold'. The attribution to Agamemnon was first suggested by Heinrich Schliemann who excavated both Troy and Mycenae in the 18th century CE. The mask was laid upon the face of the deceased and some scholars suggest it is an early attempt at portraiture in European art. The mask is on permanent display at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. Just outside the acropolis of Mycenae is the celebrated tholos tomb, known as the Treasury of Atreus. It is a monumental circular building with a corbelled roof reaching a height of 13.5 m and is 14.6 m in diameter. It is approached by a long walled and unroofed corridor 36 m long and 6m wide. Lacking any written or pictorial evidence and dating from the 14th century BCE it is, once again, too early to be connected with the mythical Agamemnon. Interestingly, cults of Agamemnon did arise in later centuries after the Mycenaeans had long since disappeared, especially at Mycenae where his tomb was thought to lay but also at Chaeronea, Klazomenai, [Tarentum](https://www.worldhistory.org/tarentum/), and in Laconian where it was also claimed lay the tomb of this great mythical king who had ruled Greece in the age of heroes. #### Editorial Review This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## Bibliography - Bagnall, R. *The Encyclopedia of Ancient History.* Wiley-Blackwell, 2012 - [Carpenter, T.H. *Art and Myth in Ancient Greece.* Thames & Hudson, 1991.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0500202362/) - [Cline, E.H. *The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean.* Oxford University Press, 2012.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0199873607/) - [Higgins, R. *Minoan and Mycenaean Art.* Thames & Hudson, 1997.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0500203032/) - [Homer. *The Iliad.* Penguin Classics, 1998.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0140275363/) - [Homer. *The Odyssey.* Penguin Classics, 1999.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0140268863/) - [Homer. *The Odyssey.* Penguin.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0140275363/) - [Hornblower, S. *The Oxford Classical Dictionary.* Oxford University Press, 2012.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0199545561/) ## About the Author Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. ## Timeline - **1750 BCE - 1300 BCE**: [Troy](https://www.worldhistory.org/troy/) VI - probable Troy of [Homer](https://www.worldhistory.org/homer/)'s [Iliad](https://www.worldhistory.org/iliad/). [City](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) at its zenith. - **c. 1550 BCE**: [Gold](https://www.worldhistory.org/gold/) [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/) masks (including that of '[Agamemnon](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Agamemnon/)') made at [Mycenae](https://www.worldhistory.org/mycenae/). - **c. 1500 BCE - 1200 BCE**: [Mycenae](https://www.worldhistory.org/mycenae/) at its peak of influence. - **1334 BCE**: [Trojan War](https://www.worldhistory.org/Trojan_War/), according to Duris of [Samos](https://www.worldhistory.org/samos/). - **c. 1250 BCE**: [Trojan War](https://www.worldhistory.org/Trojan_War/), according to [Herodotus](https://www.worldhistory.org/herodotus/). - **1184 BCE**: [Trojan War](https://www.worldhistory.org/Trojan_War/), according to [Eratosthenes](https://www.worldhistory.org/Eratosthenes/). - **c. 800 BCE - c. 700 BCE**: [Homer](https://www.worldhistory.org/homer/) of [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/) writes his *[Iliad](https://www.worldhistory.org/iliad/)* and *[Odyssey](https://www.worldhistory.org/Odyssey/)*. - **458 BCE**: [Aeschylus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aeschylus/)' tragedy trilogy Orestia: '[Agamemnon](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Agamemnon/)', [Libation Bearers](https://www.worldhistory.org/Libation_Bearers/) or 'Choephori', and '[The Eumenides](https://www.worldhistory.org/The_Eumenides/)' is first performed. ## Questions & Answers ### What was Agamemnon known for? Agamemnon is known as the king of Mycenae in Greek mythology and leader of the Greek army which attacked Troy in the Trojan War. ### What kind of person was Agamemnon? Agamemnon was a courageous leader but his selfish pride caused a feud with his best warrior Achilles during the Trojan War, an action that meant the war dragged on for much longer than it might have. ### Is Agamemnon based on a real person? King Agamemnon is a figure from Greek mythology and epic literature. There are no historical records of a ruler of Mycenae by that name. ### What bad thing did Agamemnon do? King Agamemnon did quite a few bad things. He upset Artemis when he boasted he was a better hunter than the goddess and then, in some texts, sacrificed his daughter to appease the goddess. Agamemnon upset the hero Achilles when he stole his war prize, the girl Briseis. ## External Links - [In Our Time, The Trojan War](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01j6srl) ## Cite This Work ### APA Cartwright, M. (2018, September 18). Agamemnon (Person). *World History Encyclopedia*. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Agamemnon\_(Person)/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Agamemnon_(Person)/) ### Chicago Cartwright, Mark. "Agamemnon (Person)." *World History Encyclopedia*, September 18, 2018. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Agamemnon\_(Person)/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Agamemnon_(Person)/). ### MLA Cartwright, Mark. "Agamemnon (Person)." *World History Encyclopedia*, 18 Sep 2018, [https://www.worldhistory.org/Agamemnon\_(Person)/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Agamemnon_(Person)/). ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 18 September 2018. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). 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