ATREUS (king of Mycenae)

Atreus was originally a diviner and soothsayer before becoming a ruler.¹⁰ He received the scepter from Pelops, the mighty charioteer.^9,11 Atreus assumed the kingship of Mycenae following the death of Eurystheus.^12,13 He was involved in a conflict with his brother Thyestes over a golden ram.^1,14,6 Zeus sent Hermes to tell Atreus to agree with Thyestes that Atreus would be king if the sun went backward.^15,12 Atreus demonstrated the backward movement of the sun in the sky.^12,10

Atreus drove his brother Thyestes out of the city and his home.^16,12 He passed the scepter on to Thyestes.^9,11 Atreus planned to deceive Thyestes into believing he would share his throne at Argos, promising to keep his sons safe and grant any request to ensure his happiness.^17,18 He placed the crown on his brother's head and paid victims to the gods, claiming to keep faith and expressing delight at seeing him.^6,19 Atreus served his brother Thyestes a meal made from the flesh of his own children, having broken off their toes and fingers before serving them.^16,20 He acted as the priest for the sacrifice, chanting the sacrificial song with wild and boisterous words.³

Atreus married Aerope, the daughter of Catreus.¹ From this union he begot Agamemnon and Menelaus, two warlike sons who led the army.^{21,22,23,24,25} He also fathered Iphigenia, Astyoche, Anaxibia, and Cyndragora, while Hesiod names Pleisthenes as his son.^2,26 Menelaus married into the family of Tyndareus.²⁷ Atreus was the grandfather of Orestes.²⁸

Though Zeus granted him the honor of being the chief ruler over the Achaeans, the god did not give him valour, which is considered the highest right and might.^29,30 He held the highest royal authority among the assembled warriors and was the leader responsible for the welfare and care of his host.^31,32,33 Atreus moved among the Danaan soldiers, shouting loudly to urge them to act bravely and avoid the shame of fleeing during the battle.^4,34 He commanded the people to purify themselves before the journey and ordered the offering of unblemished bulls and goats on the shore.³⁵ Atreus possesses countless treasures won from Troy, and his underground chambers held the stored treasures of Atreus and his children.^36,37 He possessed a golden flagon that featured a figure of a lamb in its center.³⁸ Atreus believed his children were inherently evil, stating that even without instruction, the throne would teach them crime.³⁹ He rejected Piety, commanding it to leave his house and be replaced by furies and fiends at war.⁷ Atreus desires punishment itself rather than its end, rejects easy-going rule, and views death as a boon in his domain.⁷