"Mycenae" Mycenae by MartinaH

Mycenae was founded by Perseus, and is source of ancient epics and legends such as the dynasty of Atreids, the labours of Hercules, the Trojan war and Agamemnon's tragic life and death.

High above the modern town of Mycenae are the ruins of an ancient city. The ruins of Ancient Mycenae date back to the second millennium B.C, but most of the original city has been destroyed over time.

Interested in greek mythology ?? And the sad story of Agamemmon ??

Agamemnon, king of Mycenae, had a brother named Menelaus, the king of Sparta. The two brothers married two sisters, Clytemnestra and Helen. Clytemnestra was Agamemnon's bride and Helen was Menelaus. Helen was of renowned beauty and was offered to a Trojan prince, Paris, by Aphrodite (Goddess of Beauty and Love), so Helen went with Paris to Troy. This enraged the brothers and Agamemnon organized an expedition to Troy and bring back Helen. However, Artemis (Goddess of the hunt & of the moon) stopped the winds from blowing because Agamemnon had shot one of her prized deer, and made him sacrifice his daughter, to make amends and to bring the wind back. After this, the Greeks were able to sail to Troy. This resulted in the Trojan war, a war that lasted ten years.

During this ten years, Clytemnestra finds a lover, Aigisthos and the 2 rule Mycenae together (after driving Agamemnon's son Orestes and his daughter, Electra, into Exile). After Agamemnon's return, this pair slaughter Agamemnon in his bath with an ax.

Ten more years later Orestes finds himself at the Temple of Apollo (God of light and the sun) at Delphi. Apollo tells Orestes that to avenge his fathers death, he must kill his mother and her lover. He returns to Mycenae and kills Clytemnestra and Aigisthos. Because he killed his mother The Furies rise up from the Earth and try to take vengeance for the death of Clytemnestra (killing your mother was a serious crime). The Furies chase Orestes to Delphi where Apollo tells Orestes to go to Athens and ask for Athena's forgiveness. So he goes to Athens where he seeks shelter in the temple of Athena (Goddess of wisdom, patron of Athens) and begs for forgiveness. He is put on trial by the Athenians. The jury reports a six six tie and Athena casts the final vote finding him not guilty. This was the first instance of a jury trial. Athena then had to ask the Furies to spare the city from their wrath and the furies agreed and became the Eumnides, the benevolent ones, blessing the earth with fertility and fruitfulness.