Chrysothemis

Family: House of Atreus · Role: sister of Orestes and Electra · First appears: Sophocles, Electra — Scene 1

In Sophocles’ Electra, Chrysothemis, sister of Orestes and Electra in the House of Atreus, is sent by Clytemnestra to Agamemnon’s tomb: “Sent by my mother to my father's tomb To pour libations to him.” At Mycenae, she tells Electra of a dream foretelling a power rising over Aegisthus’s rule, then follows Electra’s direction to replace their mother’s offerings with offerings of their own.

After finding offerings and a lock of hair at the tomb, Chrysothemis believes Orestes has returned and declares, “Here is Orestes, learn it from my mouth, As certainly as you now look on me.” When Electra tells her that Orestes is dead and proposes that they kill Aegisthus, Chrysothemis refuses, warning her sister to abandon the plan before they bring ruin upon themselves and their family: “And I beseech thee, ere in utter ruin We perish and make desolate our race, Refrain thy rage.” In Euripides’ Orestes, she is also named among the daughters of Agamemnon and sister to Iphigenia and Electra, with Orestes as the male part of the family.

Relationship record

Life events

• Chrysothemis is sent to Agamemnon's tomb to pour libations.(Sophocles, Electra — Scene 2)
  • “Sent by my mother to my father's tomb To pour libations to him.”
• Chrysothemis reveals a dream foretelling a power rising over Aegisthus's rule in Mycenae.(Sophocles, Electra — Scene 2 · 📍 Mycenae)
  • With: Aegisthus
  • “Then take and firmly plant upon the hearth The sceptre which he bore of old, and now Aegisthus bears: and out of this upsprang A burgeoned shoot, that shadowed all the ground Of loved Mycenae.”
• Electra rejects their mother's offerings and directs Chrysothemis to give substitute offerings at the tomb.(Sophocles, Electra — Scene 2)
  • With: Electra
  • “Then cast them to the winds, or deep in dust Conceal them, where no particle may reach His resting-place: but lie in store for her When she goes underground.”
• Chrysothemis believes Orestes has returned after finding offerings and a lock of hair at Agamemnon's tomb.(Sophocles, Electra — Scene 4)
  • With: Orestes
  • “Here is Orestes, learn it from my mouth, As certainly as you now look on me.”
• Electra tells Chrysothemis that Orestes is dead, destroying her hopes of salvation through him.(Sophocles, Electra — Scene 4)
  • With: Electra Orestes
  • “Dear, he is dead. Look not to him, poor girl! Salvation comes to thee no more from him.”
• Electra proposes that she and Chrysothemis kill Aegisthus to avenge their father's death.(Sophocles, Electra — Scene 4)
  • With: Electra Aegisthus
  • “To help thy sister boldly to destroy The guilty author of our father's death, Aegisthus.”
• Chrysothemis refuses to join Electra's plan, warning that resistance will bring certain ruin.(Sophocles, Electra — Scene 4)
  • With: Electra
  • “And I beseech thee, ere in utter ruin We perish and make desolate our race, Refrain thy rage.”

Sophocles, Electra — Scene 1

• siblings with Electra “CHRYSOTHEMIS, sister of Orestes and Electra.”

Sophocles, Electra — Scene 2

• siblings with Orestes “But take a ringlet from thy comely head, And this from mine, that lingers on my brow Longing to shade his tomb. Ah, give it to him, All I can give, and this my maiden-zone, Not daintily adorned, as once erewhile. Then, humbly kneeling, pray that from the ground He would arise to help us 'gainst his foes, And grant his son Orestes with high hand Strongly to trample on his enemies; That in our time to come from ampler stores We may endow him, than are ours to-day. I cannot but imagine that his will Hath part in visiting her sleep with fears. But howsoe'er, I pray thee, sister mine, Do me this service, and thyself, and him, Dearest of all the world to me and thee, The father of us both, who rests below.”

Sophocles, Electra — Scene 3

• parent: Clytemnestra “For should my mother know of it, sharp pain Will follow yet my bold adventurous feat.”
• siblings with Electra “But I'll prove No rightful vengeance drew thee to the deed, But the vile bands of him you dwell with now.”

Sophocles, Electra — Scene 4

• parent: Clytemnestra “our mother is not minded so to act”
• siblings with Electra “Driven by delight, dear sister, I am come”
• siblings with Orestes “He and none else bestowed this ornament.”

Sophocles, Electra — Scene 5

• with Electra (They disagree over the course of action.) “Then I will go. Thy heart will ne'er be brought To praise my words, nor I thine action here.”

Euripides, Orestes — Scene 1

• parent: Agamemnon “from whom we virgins were born, three from one mother; Chrysothemis, and Iphigenia, and myself Electra; and Orestes the male part of the family”
• parent: Clytemnestra “from whom we virgins were born, three from one mother; Chrysothemis, and Iphigenia, and myself Electra; and Orestes the male part of the family”
• siblings with Iphigenia “from whom we virgins were born, three from one mother; Chrysothemis, and Iphigenia, and myself Electra; and Orestes the male part of the family”
• siblings with Electra “from whom we virgins were born, three from one mother; Chrysothemis, and Iphigenia, and myself Electra; and Orestes the male part of the family”

⭐ Character constellation map → · 📖 Read the original → · 🗂 Character index → · 🕰 Chronicle → · 📍 Places →

Extracted from the original text of Greek Tragedy. Made with Rho MD.