Euripides, Iphigenia at Aulis

George Kovacs (Trent University)

Ed. by Jonathan Burgess, University of Toronto
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.1.1: Greek Writing and Culture: Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and Imperial, -800--100.
Vol. editors: Jonathan Burgess (University of Toronto), Giacomo Fedeli (University of Exeter), Emily Kneebone (University of Nottingham), Vaios Liapis (Open University of Cyprus), Elodie Paillard (University of Sydney), Mali Skotheim (Ashoka University), Laura Swift (The Open University)

Dates

First circulation or publication c. -405

Places

Ancient Greece (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Play
Tragedy

Resources

At the outset of the Trojan War, the Greek fleet is trapped at Aulis by adverse winds. Through the prophet Calchas, Artemis demands the sacrifice of Iphigenia, Agamemnon’s firstborn child. Iphigenia at Aulis (IA) depicts the events leading to that sacrifice. This tragedy was likely produced in 405 BC at the Dionysia festival, about a year after Euripides’ death, along with Bacchae and the non-extant Alcmeon in Corinth (it is not known if a satyr play accompanied the three tragedies, as was customary). Produced by ‘Euripides Minor’ (a son or nephew?), the trilogy garnered a rare first place finish for the deceased poet in the competitive festival.

In keeping with the increasing humanism of the …

Please log in to consult the article in its entirety. If you are a member (student of staff) of a subscribing institution (see List), you should be able to access the LE on campus directly (without the need to log in), and off-campus either via the institutional log in we offer, or via your institution's remote access facilities, or by creating a personal user account with your institutional email address. If you are not a member of a subscribing institution, you will need to purchase a personal subscription. For more information on how to subscribe as an individual user, please see under Individual Subcriptions.

2481 words

Citation: Kovacs, George. "Iphigenia at Aulis". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 08 October 2012 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=34387, accessed 21 November 2024.]

Save this article