House of Atreus Summary

Tantalus serves Pelops at a banquet to test God's knowledge, and the curse begins.Tantalus is killed and punishedPelops marries HippodamiaHas two children: Atreus, ThyestesAtreus and Thyestes quarrel over successionThyestes fathers AegisthusAtreus kills Thyestes sons and serves them to himAtreus marries Pelopia and raises AegisthusAegisthus is ordered to kill Thyestes but instead kills AtreusAtreus's sons Agamemnon and Menelaus take refuge with king TyndareusTyndareus cursed to have unfaithful daughters because of a poor sacrificeTyndareus marries, has Castor and ClytemnestraLeda, seduced by Zeus, and has Pollux and HelenMenelaus marries Helen (cause of Trojan War)

Agamemnon marries Clytemnestra, has IphigeniaAgamemnon has to kill his daughter (Iphigenia) as a sacrifice to ArtemisAgamemnon tells Clytemnestra that Iphigenia will be marrying AchillesWhen Iphigenia arrives, she is slaughtered by her father (Agamemnon)Clytemnestra starts plotting death of her husbandHelen courted by all great Greek menTyndareus makes suitors swear to protect Helens choice and honorHelen kidnapped by ParisGreek heroes go to rescue her Aegisthus seduces Clytemnestra takes control in ArgosAgamemnon returns home 12 years later and is murdered by Aegisthus and Clytemnestra