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Vol. 20 : Iphigenia

A few weeks later, the beautiful Iphigenia, 16 years old, arrived with her mother, Clytemnestra, at the bay of Aulis.

"Father!" she called running into Agamemnon's tent and hugging him tightly. Clytemnestra followed, looking proudly upon her daughter.

"It is good to see you both," Agamemnon said.

"But why do you look so sad?" Iphigenia asked.

"My daughter is getting married. She won't have time for her poor old father anymore."

Iphigenia laughed, winding her fingers through her father's beard. "Don't be silly, you will come and live with us."

Agamemnon smiled sadly. "Now, go," he said. "Prepare yourself."

"This is a great day," Clytemnestra said after Iphigenia had left. "Our daughter is marrying the greatest hero in Greece."

"Clytemnestra, there is something I must tell you," Agamemnon said. He told her that their daughter had to be sacrificed to Diana.

"You are going to kill your own daughter — our daughter?" she cried out in horror. "You can't. That is inhuman."

"I am a king, a slave to my people. I must do this for Greece."

"But are you not also a man and a father?"

"I can't talk about this," Agamemnon said, his voice breaking. "Go. Tell her."

"But she is so young," said Clytemnestra.

Agamemnon turned away. He knew it was too late. His men already knew about the sacrifice; it could not be stopped.

Clytemnestra went to her daughter. At first, Iphigenia screamed and cried, but gradually she grew calm. Soon, the guards arrived to take her away. Her mother stayed alone in the tent, her daughter's wedding veil in her hands. She listened to the soldiers outside.

Later her husband came to the tent.

"Do not grieve," he said. "Diana replaced Iphigenia with a deer's body just before the knife struck. The goddess has taken her somewhere safe."

"Do not lie to me, Agamemnon," said Clytemnestra bitterly. "She is dead."

And with that, she fled from him.