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Aegisthus

Meet Aegisthus, a sneaky character from ancient Greek stories who played a big role in a famous myth!

Images

Woodcut illustration of Clytemnestra and Aegisthus murdering Agamemnon and their subsequent deaths at the hand of Orestes - Penn Provenance Project

Woodcut illustration of Clytemnestra and Aegisthus murdering Agamemnon and their subsequent deaths at the hand of Orestes - Penn Provenance Project

openverse
Aegisthus discovering body Clytaemnestra. Colour
Tomb of Aegisthus, Mycenae, 090983
Over the Tholos Tomb of Aegisthus (15th cent. B.C.) at Mycenae on 26 March 2019
Copy of the Relief with Representation of the Killing of Aegisthus by Orestes
Woodcut illustration of Clytemnestra and Aegisthus murdering Agamemnon and their subsequent deaths at the hand of Orestes
Tomb of Aegisthus 3
Tomb of Aegisthus, Myenae, 090981
Plan of Aegisthus tomb
The entrance to the Tomb of Aegisthus on October 27, 2019
ORESTEIA Staging - Orestes over the slain bodies of Clytemnestra and Aegisthus 01
File:Oinochoe murder Aegisthus Louvre K320.jpg

Key Facts

Character Type
Figure in Greek mythology.
First Told
Around the end of the 8th century BC in Homer's Odyssey.
Key Action
Involved in a famous myth with a queen.
Famous Story
Appears in Homer's Odyssey and Aeschylus's Oresteia.

Who is Aegisthus?

Imagine a character from a super old storybook! That's Aegisthus. He's from ancient Greece, a place far away and long ago. His story is told in famous poems like the Odyssey, which is like a really long adventure tale. He's not a hero, but he's a very important part of the story. Think of him like a character in your favorite cartoon who causes a lot of trouble!

A Sneaky Plan!

Aegisthus wasn't always a nice guy. He was part of a big, dramatic family story. His mom and dad had some problems, and Aegisthus ended up doing something very sneaky. He helped a queen do something she shouldn't have. It's like if someone told you to take a cookie when you know you're not supposed to. His actions had big consequences for everyone involved.

Why His Story Matters

Even though Aegisthus did bad things, his story is super interesting! It teaches us about choices and what happens when people make them. The ancient Greeks loved telling stories like this to understand the world. His tale is part of a famous play called the Oresteia, which is like a really old movie or TV show that people watched and talked about.

Adventures in Ancient Greece

Aegisthus's story is found in some of the oldest books we have from ancient Greece. The Odyssey is like a giant adventure book, and Aegisthus is a character in it. Another story, called Electra, also talks about him, even if he doesn't show up on stage! These stories are like ancient gossip, telling us about the lives and secrets of people from long ago.

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