As you know, one of the most popular topics for works of art in ancient Greece was the war with Troy. Antique playwrights described different characters of this legend, not only men but also women. The story of the heroic daughter of the Argos king Agamemnon, Iphigenia, was especially popular with them. Tragedies were written about her fate by such famous Greeks as Aeschylus, Sophocles, as well as the Roman playwrights Annius and Nevi. However, one of the most famous among such works is considered the tragedy of Euripides "Iphigenia in Aulida." Let's find out what it is about, and also consider what historians know about the real Iphigenia.
Ancient Greek playwright Euripides
Before considering the tragedy of "Iphigenia in Aulis", it is worth learning about its creator - Euripides from Salamis.
He was born in 480 BC. e. Although there are opinions that this could happen in 481 or 486.
Euripides's father, Mnesarchus, was a rich man, so the future playwright received an excellent education, learning from the famous philosopher and mathematician Anaxagoras.
In his youth, Euripides was fond of sports and drawing. However, the most active of his hobbies (which grew into a real passion) was literature.
At first, the young man simply collected interesting books. But later he realized that he himself was capable of writing no worse.
The first of his plays "Peliad" was staged when Euripides turned 25. Her warm acceptance by the public contributed to the playwright continuing to write until his death. He is credited with about 90 plays. However, only 19 of them have survived to our times.
During his lifetime, the popularity of the works of Euripides was simply fantastic, and not only in Athens, but also in Macedonia and Sicily.
It is believed that the success of the plays was provided not only by an excellent poetic style, thanks to which many contemporaries knew them by heart. Another reason for the popularity of the playwright was the careful study of female images, which no one had done before Euripides.
The poet in his works often brought the heroines to the forefront, allowing them to overshadow the male heroes. This highlight distinguished his books from the tragedies of other authors.
The tragedy of Euripides on the fate of the daughter of Agamemnon
"Iphigenia in Aulis" is one of the few works that has been completely preserved.
Presumably the drama was first staged in 407 BC. e.
Judging by the fact that it has reached our times, the play was very popular.
It is also likely that attention to the work attracted the death of its author next year. Indeed, in this way drama became his last work.
Chronologically, Iphigenia in Aulida can be considered a prequel to another Euripides play - Iphigenia in Tauris, written 7 years earlier, in 414 BC. This tragedy is also preserved. There is a version that it was her popularity that prompted the playwright to devote another tragedy to Iphigenia.
Euripides was translated into Russian by Iphigenia in Aulida relatively late - in 1898 - by the famous poet and translator Innokenty Annensky. By the way, he also owns the translation of "Iphigenia in Tauris."
The play was first fully translated into Ukrainian almost a century later - in 1993 by Andrei Sodomora. It’s also known that Lesya Ukrainka was interested in Iphigenia and even wrote a small dramatic sketch “Ifgenia in Taurida”.
What events preceded those described in the tragedy of Euripides
Before proceeding to consider the summary of "Iphigenia in Aulida", it is worth learning about what happened before it began. After all, Euripides wrote many plays dedicated to the Trojan War. Therefore, it was understood that everyone already knew the background of "Iphigenia in Aulides."
After Elena the Beautiful (which, incidentally, is Iphigenia's cousin) left her husband and left for Troy with Paris, the insulted husband Menelaus decided to take revenge. He initiated the war of the Greeks with the Trojans.
In addition to the great heroes of Greece, his brother, the Argos king Agamemnon (father of Iphigenia), joined this campaign.
Summary of "Iphigenia in Aulida" Euripides
This play begins with Agamemnon talking to his old slave. From this conversation it becomes clear that the Greek ships were stuck in Aulis and could not sail to the shores of Troy.
From the priests, the people learn that they need to make a human sacrifice to Artemis and then a fair wind will blow. The great goddess chooses in this role the eldest daughter of Agamemnon - Iphigenia.
The king has already sent for a daughter and wife Klitemnestra, inviting them to come on the pretext of the wedding of the princess with Achilles. However, later fatherly feelings prevail over the military and patriotic. The king writes a letter to his wife, in which he tells the truth and asks not to send his daughter to Aulida.
But this message is not destined to reach the recipient. A slave with a letter is intercepted by a cuckold Menelaus. Learning about the "cowardice" of his brother, he rolls a scandal.
While the brothers are arguing, Iphigenia and Clytemnestra arrive in Aulis. Agamemnon still understands that now he will be forced to sacrifice his daughter, because the whole army knows about the will of Artemis. But he does not dare to tell the truth to the women, evasively answering his wife's questions about the upcoming wedding: "Yes, she will be taken to the altar ...".
Meanwhile, Achilles (who knows nothing of his own role in deception) comes into the tent of Agamemnon. Here he meets Clytemnestra and Iphigenia, learning from them about the wedding. Between them there is a misunderstanding, which resolves the old slave, who told the truth.
The mother is desperate and realizes that her daughter is trapped and will die "for the profligate Elena." She persuades Achilles to help, and he solemnly swears to defend Iphigenia.
Achilles leaves to collect warriors, and Agamemnon returns instead. Realizing that his relatives already know everything, he is trying to quietly persuade them to obey. However, Clytemnestra and Iphigenia are asked to abandon the sacrifice.
The king makes a fiery speech about the homeland and leaves. Meanwhile, Achilles returns with the news that the whole army already knows about the princess' arrival and demands her death. Despite this, he vows to protect the girl, to the last drop of blood.
However, the princess changes her mind. The father’s pathetic speech (uttered earlier) touched her. The girl stops the bloodshed and voluntarily agrees to die.
Achilles and others in admiration for such sacrifice of Iphigenia and to songs of praise, the princess goes to death.
In the finale, a doe sent by Artemis dies instead. The goddess gives the wind, and the Greeks are going to war.
What happened to Iphigenia next
Knowing the contents of "Iphigenia in Aulida" briefly, it will be interesting to trace its further biography according to myths and other sources.
They all agree that the princess did not die, because at the time of the sacrifice she was saved by Artemis herself. The goddess was delighted with the nobility of Iphigenia, who took the girl to her (while all the heroes believed that the princess had died and was in heaven).
What was the fate of the sacrificial beauty? There are several versions.
According to one of them, Artemis turned her into the goddess of moonlight - Hecate.
On the other hand - it granted immortality and a new name - Orsilokha, settling on the White Island.
It is believed that the goddess made Iphigenia the wife of Achilles.
There is a legend that not Artemis, but Achilles, saves the princess from death. He sends the girl to Scythia, where she served as the priestess of the goddess.
There is also a version that Iphigenia was captured by the Tavroskifs and given to serve in the temple of Artemis.
Another tragedy of Euripides "Iphigenia in Tauris"
Most theories about the future fate of the noble princess are invariably associated with Tavria and the service of Artemis. Perhaps, guided by precisely these data, Euripides wrote the tragedy "Iphigenia in Tauris."
Although this drama was written earlier, chronologically, its action takes place several years after the miraculous salvation of the princess. Since none of the mortals knew about her fate, more than one tragedy happened in the Iphigenia family.
The inconsolable Clytemnestra after the death of her daughter never forgave her husband. During the years of his absence, she made an affair with his enemy - Aegisthus. And after returning from Troy, Clytemnestra kills her husband, taking revenge for his daughter's death and treason (except treasures, Agamemnon brought the concubine Cassandra).
A few years after the murder, the Delphic oracle of Apollo orders Iphigenia's younger brother, Orestes, to avenge the death of his father. By that time, the boy had grown and matured. He carried out the order, killing both the mother and her lover.
That's just for this he was pursued by the goddess of vengeance. To beg forgiveness, Orestes learns that he needs to come to Tauris and bring from there a wooden statue of Artemis, which, according to legend, fell from the sky.
The tragedy of "Iphigenia in Tauris" begins with the fact that Orestes, together with his friend Pilad, arrives in Tauris. It turns out that foreigners are sacrificed here to Artemis.
On the eve of the arrival of brother Iphigenia, a dream occurs. The princess interprets it as news of the imminent death of Orestes, whom she had not seen for many years. To prevent her brother’s death, she decides to save one of the Greeks, prepared as a sacrifice for Artemis. In exchange, the rescued must take the warning letter to Orestes.
However, it turns out that one of the strangers is the brother of Iphigenia. He tells why he came to Taurida, and his sister agrees to help them kidnap the statue with Pilad.
The heroes manage to carry out their plan, and together they return home.
Tragedy analysis
Carrying out the analysis of Eupheniace's Iphigenia in Aulida, it is worth paying attention to the fact that the author of the tragedy tried to raise a lot of important problems in it. Although many perceived this work as an eulogy of sacrificial patriotism, the poet himself tried to show what its price was. So for the upcoming victory, the heroes have to kill everything human and kill an innocent girl. Although it is mentioned that the Greeks at that time practically did not practice human sacrifice.
The author also considers the problems of a person’s stay in power. Perhaps a close acquaintance with the Macedonian king Archelaus prompted him to write about it. The topic of power and its price is devoted to the first dialogue in the tragedy. In it, Agamemnon envies an old servant. He admits that the happiness of being the sovereign and arbiter of destinies is highly doubtful: "The bait is sweet, and biting is abhorrent ...".
Other issues shown in the tragedy include the insanity and greed of the crowd. It is worth remembering that democracy first appeared among the Greeks, and Euripides knew what he was writing about. So, for the sake of victory in the war, the people are ready to sacrifice an innocent girl. This looks very tragic, especially if you know that after the victory over Troy these same soldiers for some reason did not demand the execution of Elena, who became the culprit of the war.
Who knows, maybe Euripides, at the end of his years, to a certain degree became disillusioned with modern democracy to him and veiledly showed this in his last tragedy?
The image of Iphigenia in the tragedy of Euripides
Knowing how the fate of the main character of "Iphigenia in Aulida" has developed, it is worth paying more attention to herself.
In his play Euripides was able to show the evolution of the princess’s character and once again prove that they are not born heroes, but become.
So at the beginning this is a cheerful girl, hungry for love and happiness. She arrives in Aulides, hoping to become the wife of one of the most beautiful and famous heroes of Greece.
Having learned about the intention to make her a victim, the princess is already dreaming not of a wedding, but simply of life. She asks for mercy from her father, motivating her request "... to live so joyfully, and to die so scary ...".
The intransigence of the father, who is also experiencing her impending death, becomes an example for Iphigenia. And even when there is a defender in the person of Achilles, the girl decides to sacrifice herself and agrees to die in the name of the goddess Artemis and the victory of the Greeks over the enemies.
By the way, back in ancient Greece, Aristotle found that Euripides did not carefully register the metamorphosis of the character of his heroine. He believed that the princess’s heroic sacrifice was not sufficiently argued. Therefore, although it delights, it looks somewhat unmotivated.
At the same time, other literary scholars, conducting an analysis of "Iphigenia in Aulida," believe that love for Achilles pushed the girl to such a sacrifice.
This theory is quite viable. After all, in fact, Iphigenia agreed to death only after Achilles vowed to protect her at the cost of his life. And given that the whole army of the Greeks is against him, then he is doomed. Therefore, consent to become a victim of Artemis could be given precisely in order to save the beloved from certain, albeit heroic death.
In fairness, it is worth noting that if you look at the image of Iphigenia in this vein, then her act has a clear motive that Aristotle did not find.
The system of images in "Iphigenia in Aulida"
Paying tribute to Euripides, it is worth noting that in his tragedy he carefully worked out all the characters.
For example, he deftly contrasted the characters of the parents of the main character. So Agamemnon and Clytemnestra love a daughter. However, the responsibility of the whole nation also lies on the shoulders of the king. He understands that if he regrets Iphigenia, he will destroy thousands of lives. This choice is not easy for him, and he constantly fluctuates.
Menelaus and Clytemnestra fulfill the role of his demon and angel, seeking to drag the doubter to his side. Each of them is driven by personal interests (Clytemnestra - love for her daughter, Menelaus - thirst for revenge).
In contrast, Agamemnon ultimately brings his interests to please the public and is morally exalted over his relatives. And, perhaps, it was his personal example (and not fiery speech) that inspired Iphigenia for her heroic sacrifice.
An interesting feature of the image system in this tragedy is that each hero has his own drama, even if he is negative. So Menelaus (who started the war with Troy for the sake of his ambition) uses intrigues to force his brother to sacrifice his daughter. However, having reached the goal, even he feels something like regret.
By the way, such an ardent desire of Menelaus to destroy an innocent niece can be interpreted as an attempt to recoup for Elena's treason on her cousin. And if we look at this image in this vein, then Elena’s escape from the tyrant’s husband looks quite understandable.
Particular attention should be paid to Achilles. Unlike other characters, he is not connected by family ties with Iphigenia. Moreover (judging by the plot of Euripides), the young man treats the princess with respect and pity, but does not feel love for her.
Indeed, in fact, Clytemnestra makes him promise to defend his beauty, taking advantage of the hero’s insult to use his noble name for dishonest deception. And in the future, he could no longer refuse this word. So, even if the princess loved him, according to Euripides, her feelings were not mutual.
Opera of the same name
The idea that the main heroine of Euripides’s tragedy “Iphigenia in Aulis” could be driven by a secret love for Achilles, and not for the homeland, apparently came to mind many.
That is why often artists, describing the fate of the princess, focused on the love story.
One of the most famous of these works is the opera "Iphigenia in Awlide", written by Christoph Willibald Gluck in 1774.
He took the plot not as a tragedy of Euripides, but its alteration by Rasin, replacing the tragic ending with a happy one.
So, according to Gluck, Achilles and Iphigenia are the bride and groom. Taking advantage of this, Menelaus and Agamemnon lure the princess to Aulida. Subsequently, the father repents and sends the guard Arkas to inform his daughter about the betrayal of the betrothed and to avert her arrival.
That's just a warrior overtakes women only upon their arrival in Aulida. Despite his words, Achilles proves his innocence, and they with Iphigenia joyfully plan to go to the temple, expecting a wedding.
However, Arkas tells them about the true reason for calling the princess. Struck Iphigenia begs her father for mercy. She manages to soften his heart, and he arranges for the beauty to escape.
Unfortunately, nothing succeeds. Achilles hides his beloved in his tent. But against him the whole army of the Greeks, demanding to sacrifice the girl.
In the future, the plot unfolds like that of Euripides. But in the finale, Achilles, accompanied by his soldiers, nevertheless wrests the beloved from the hands of the murderer's priest, and Artemis appears to the people. She has mercy on Iphigenia, and the Greeks predicts victory over Troy.
In the finale, lovers get married.