Aerope

CreatureGreece · Southern EuropeLegendFear 7/10

Description

A creature from the folklore of Greece. In Greek mythology, Aerope (Ancient Greek: Ἀερόπη) was a Cretan princess as the daughter of…

Origin & Background

In Greek mythology, Aerope is a princess of Crete, the daughter of King Catreus of Crete. She is the sister of Clymene, Apemosyne, and Althaemenes. Catreus, having heard a prophecy that one of his children would kill him, decided to sell Aerope to Nauplius. Nauplius saved her life, and Aerope eventually married Atreus or Pleisthenes. According to most traditions, she becomes the mother of Agamemnon and Menelaus as the wife of Atreus.

The Legend

Aerope, as the wife of Atreus, engages in an affair with his brother Thyestes. She gives Thyestes a golden ram to help him become king of Mycenae. The story of Aerope begins with her father Catreus handing her over to Nauplius, and she eventually goes to Mycenae to marry Atreus. In various traditions, Aerope is depicted as both the wife of Atreus and the lover of Thyestes, and her actions are often filled with betrayal and conspiracy.

In Popular Culture

Aerope's story was popular in Greek tragedy, but no complete works remain. She appears as an important character in Euripides' lost tragedy 'Cretan Women,' where her infidelity and betrayal are central themes. Aerope's story recurs in various traditions related to the births of Agamemnon and Menelaus, and her complex relationships have become a significant element in Greek mythology.

This article is based on the Wikipedia article "Aerope" (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikipedia