Source Verification: Iphigenia in Aulis

Every claim below is either what a named ancient source attests, in its own line or section, or a point where the sources themselves disagree.

What the Sources Attest

What is the story of Iphigenia in Aulis?

A becalmed Greek fleet is told it cannot sail for Troy until Agamemnon offers his daughter to Artemis. He summons her with a false promise of marriage to Achilles. The sources then split. Aeschylus's chorus leaves her at the altar. Euripides and Apollodorus say Artemis put a deer in her place. Apollodorus adds that the goddess made her a priestess of the Taurians.

Source: Apollodorus, Epitome 3.22

Can you summarize the story of Iphigenia at Aulis?

In Euripides's play Agamemnon lures Iphigenia and Clytemnestra to the camp with a sham marriage. Menelaus seizes the letter that would have warned them. Achilles vows to protect the girl, but the army turns on him. Iphigenia chooses the altar for the sake of Hellas. The messenger's speech that closes the play, whose authenticity is disputed, says a deer lay on the altar in her place.

Source: Euripides, Iphigenia at Aulis 87-110

Did Achilles try to save Iphigenia?

In Euripides he does. He swears that Agamemnon will not touch her, and he is nearly stoned by the army for it. He offers to fight for her. Iphigenia refuses his help, and the messenger later has him at the altar. Frazer notes that Dictys Cretensis has Achilles rescue her from the altar.

Source: Euripides, Iphigenia at Aulis 1338-1367

What is Aulis in Greek mythology?

Aulis is the harbour on the Boeotian shore across from Chalcis where the Greek fleet gathered for Troy. It is the setting for two omens. Calchas read a serpent eating a nest of sparrows as a sign that Troy would fall in ten years. Later, contrary winds held the fleet there until Iphigenia was offered to Artemis.

Source: Aeschylus, Agamemnon 184-247

What is the myth of Iphigenia?

Iphigenia is the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, offered to Artemis at Aulis so the Greek fleet could sail for Troy. Some tellings end at the altar, others save her with a deer and send her to the Taurians. Her full profile, with the disputed endings, is on the Iphigenia page.

Source: Euripides, Iphigenia in Tauris 1-41

What is the story of Iphigenia in Tauris about?

Iphigenia in Tauris is Euripides's play about what came after Aulis. Iphigenia is a priestess among the Taurians, where strangers are sacrificed. Her brother Orestes arrives to fetch the goddess's wooden image, and she recognises him. The Iphigenia page follows the play.

Source: Apollodorus, Epitome 6.27

Where Accounts Differ

why-artemis-was-angry
whether-iphigenia-died-at-aulis
authenticity-of-the-euripides-ending
achilles-role-at-the-altar
who-fetched-iphigenia

Artemis's grievance differs. Apollodorus, Epitome 3.21, gives Agamemnon's boast over a deer and Atreus's withheld golden lamb. Aeschylus, Agamemnon 134-155, gives the omen of the eagles and the pregnant hare. Euripides, Iphigenia in Tauris 1-41, gives Agamemnon's vow of the most beautiful creature born that year.
The ending of Iphigenia at Aulis is doubted. The Perseus translation prints the messenger's account of the blow and the deer, from line 1578, in square brackets. The scene cannot be cited as certainly Euripides's own, though Apollodorus, Epitome 3.22, and Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.24-38, also give the deer.
Whether she died is disputed. Aeschylus, Agamemnon 184-247, breaks off at the altar and later treats her as killed. Euripides, Iphigenia in Tauris 1-41, and Apollodorus, Epitome 3.22, replace her with a deer. Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.24-38, has the goddess spread a mist. Frazer's note to Epitome 3.22 says Dictys Cretensis has Achilles rescue her from the altar.
The Cypria is reported only through Frazer's note to Apollodorus, Epitome 3.22, which says the epic, as summarized by Proclus, agrees on the deer. No line of the Cypria was checked here.
Achilles's part is not fixed. In Euripides, Iphigenia at Aulis 919-974 and 1338-1367, he vows to defend her. In the messenger's speech, 1532-1577, he takes the basket and prays. The Perseus notes doubt parts of his speeches, including lines 1408-1433 and the speech beginning at 919.
Who fetched her differs. Euripides, Iphigenia at Aulis 87-110, has Agamemnon write to Clytemnestra. Apollodorus, Epitome 3.22, has him send Odysseus and Talthybius to ask for her.
Lucretius is outside this site's source registry. The passage was read in the Latin text served by Perseus at 1.80-101, and it names the girl Iphianassa at 1.85.

Sources

Primary sources

Aeschylus, Agamemnon 134-155
Aeschylus, Agamemnon 184-247
Aeschylus, Agamemnon 205-217
Aeschylus, Agamemnon 1412-1425
Euripides, Iphigenia at Aulis 87-110
Euripides, Iphigenia at Aulis 358-380
Euripides, Iphigenia at Aulis 819-860
Euripides, Iphigenia at Aulis 861-918
Euripides, Iphigenia at Aulis 919-974
Euripides, Iphigenia at Aulis 1338-1367
Euripides, Iphigenia at Aulis 1368-1432
Euripides, Iphigenia at Aulis 1433-1467
Euripides, Iphigenia at Aulis 1532-1577
Euripides, Iphigenia at Aulis 1578-1612
Euripides, Iphigenia in Tauris 1-41
Apollodorus, Epitome 3.15
Apollodorus, Epitome 3.17
Apollodorus, Epitome 3.20
Apollodorus, Epitome 3.21
Apollodorus, Epitome 3.22
Apollodorus, Epitome 6.26
Apollodorus, Epitome 6.27
Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.24-38
Lucretius, On the Nature of Things 1.84-101