Clytemnestra der Künigin Micenarum · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Clytemnestra der Künigin Micenarum
Period: 1500-1550;
Geographic: Mycenae; Ancient Greece
Description: Queen Clytemnestra of Mycenae is depicted on the right side of the engraving putting a sweater on her husband, Agamemnon. The person sneaking up beside Clytemnestra is the person she has been having an affair with: Aegisthus. Aegisthus and Clytemnestra conjured a plan to kill Clytemnestra’s husband, King Agamemnon, in order to gain control of Mycenae. Clytemnestra gave Agamemnon a piece of clothing that had no neck hole. As he struggled with the garment, the adulterer Aegisthus pierced Agamemnon with a sword, as depicted in the image. Orestes, the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, sought to avenge his father’s death. He is depicted on the left side of the engraving killing both his mother and Aegisthus while they share an embrace.
Image Creator: Joerg Breu (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:18326
Language: ger
Source Name: Ein schöne Cronica oder Hystoribuch von den fürnämlichsten Weybern [A beautiful chronicle or history book of reputable women]
Parent Collection: 1543 Stayner; 1543 Stayner
Image: mta_18326_OBJ.png
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Clytemnestra; Agamemnon; Aegisthus; Important Women; Famous Women; Important Queens; Infidelity; Greek Mythology