Pausanias' Description of Greece

Clytæmnestra

Role: queen · First appears: Book 2 · Chapter 16

In one tradition, Tantalus (son of Thyestes) married Clytæmnestra before Agamemnon, who later married her as her first husband after receiving her from Tyndareus. At Argos, Helen gave Clytæmnestra the child she had borne by Theseus.

At Maniæ, Clytæmnestra was murdered, and Orestes was driven mad afterward. The Antiquarians of the Peloponnese said the pursuit of Orestes by the Furies for his mother’s murder happened before his trial before the Areopagus; Perilaus (son of Icarius), her cousin, sought vengeance for her. Clytæmnestra and Ægisthus were buried just outside the walls.

Relationship record

Life events

  • Agamemnon married Clytæmnestra as her first husband after receiving her from Tyndareus.(Book 2 · Chapter 18)
    • With: Agamemnon Tyndareus
    • “they say he married Clytæmnestra as her first husband having received her from Tyndareus.”
  • Tantalus married Clytæmnestra before her marriage to Agamemnon, according to one tradition.(Book 2 · Chapter 22)
    • With: Tantalus (son of Thyestes)
    • “the Tantalus who was the son of Thyestes or Broteus, (for both traditions are current), who married Clytæmnestra before Agamemnon, was buried here”
  • Helen bore a child by Theseus in Argos and gave the child to Clytæmnestra.(Book 2 · Chapter 22 · 📍 Argos)
    • With: Helen Theseus
    • “they say she was pregnant by Theseus, and bare a child in Argos and built this temple to Ilithyia, and gave the child to Clytæmnestra”
  • Clytæmnestra was murdered, and Orestes was driven mad afterward.(Book 8 · Chapter 34 · 📍 Maniæ)
    • With: Orestes
    • “Orestes was driven mad here after the murder of his mother.”

Book 2 · Chapter 16

  • with Ægisthus (They were buried together outside the walls.) “And Clytæmnestra and Ægisthus were buried a little outside the walls”
  • with Ægisthus (interaction) “And Clytæmnestra and Ægisthus were buried a little outside the walls”

Book 2 · Chapter 18

  • married with Tantalus (son of Thyestes) “they say he married Clytæmnestra as her first husband”
  • married with Agamemnon “for they say he married Clytæmnestra as her first husband having received her from Tyndareus”
  • with Tyndareus (Tyndareus gave Clytæmnestra to Agamemnon.) “having received her from Tyndareus”

Book 2 · Chapter 22

  • married with Tantalus (son of Thyestes) “who married Clytæmnestra before Agamemnon, was buried here”
  • married with Agamemnon “and gave the child to Clytæmnestra, who was now the wife of Agamemnon”

Book 8 · Chapter 34

  • child: Orestes (Clytæmnestra is identified as Orestes's mother.) “And the Antiquarians of the Peloponnese say that this pursuit of Orestes by the Furies of his mother Clytæmnestra happened prior to the trial before the Areopagus”
  • cousins with Perilaus (son of Icarius) “Perilaus the cousin of Clytæmnestra, who asked for vengeance for the murder of his kinswoman.”

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