Iphigenia At Aulis

Iphigenia at Aulis is a tragedy written by the ancient Greek playwright Euripides in the 5th century BC. The play tells the story of Agamemnon the leader of the Greek army who must sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia to the goddess Artemis in order to win the Trojan War. The play begins with the Greek army being stranded at the port of Aulis due to unfavorable winds and Agamemnon is told by the seer Calchas that the only way to appease the gods and ensure a successful campaign is to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia. Agamemnon reluctantly agrees to the sacrifice but is torn between his duty as a leader and his love for his daughter. The play explores themes of sacrifice duty and the role of women in Greek society. Iphigenia is depicted as a tragic figure caught between the demands of her father and the expectations of society while Agamemnon struggles with the consequences of his actions and the guilt of sacrificing his own daughter. The play reaches its climax with the arrival of Achilles who had been promised Iphigenias hand in marriage in exchange for his support in the war. He learns of the sacrifice and is outraged leading to a confrontation with Agamemnon and the other Greek leaders.