Iphigenia at Aulis

At predawn, the Greek army is camped near the bay at Aulis in front of Agamemnon’s tent. The ships are stalled in the harbor, waiting for favorable winds. Agamemnon comes out of his tent holding a letter. He paces in front of his tent “in great indecision” for several moments and he calls for his attendant, an old man, to come out from the tent quickly. The old man exits the tent, stating that he can’t sleep in his old age anyway.

Agamemnon tells his attendant that he’s nervous about the “silent” winds. The old man asks why Agamemnon is so wide awake and nervous at such an hour—all is safe and still in the city. Agamemnon says he envies the man his calm and his ability to live a quiet life “unnoticed by fame.” The old man insists that men like Agamemnon, who have authority, have “the good of life.” Agamemnon, however, insists that the “honor” that comes with power is nothing but a “trap.” Sometimes powerful men lose everything through conflict with the gods—but sometimes, they squander it themselves.

The old man reminds Agamemnon that his father, Atreus, did not bring him into a perfect world—it is normal for one’s life to contain both joy and suffering. The old man points out the letter Agamemnon is holding. He says he knows that Agamemnon is agonizing over the letter, repeatedly sealing and unsealing it and even crying as he tries to erase what he's already written. The old man begs Agamemnon to tell him what’s in the letter so that he can advise him as to what to do with it. The old man reminds Agamemnon that he’s known him for years—he is Agamemnon’s wife, Clytemnestra’s, slave and he was even in their wedding party.

Agamemnon reflects on his family’s history. His wife, Clytemnestra, is the daughter of Leda and Tyndareos. Clytemnestra’s sister Helen is now the catalyst behind the bloody Trojan War. Tyndareos knew that Helen’s great beauty would bring strife to the world so he made her suitors swear an oath to accept whomever Helen chose as her rightful husband. After Helen married Agamemnon’s brother Menelaos, however, a young and handsome man named Paris arrived to tempt Helen. Paris carried Helen away with him, and now Menelaos has called upon Helen’s other suitors—the oath-bearers—to rise up against Paris alongside him. The Greeks have “rushed to arms” and are now preparing to sail on Troy. The winds, however, have died, and the troops are stranded.

Agamemnon reveals the source of his pain. There is only one way to get the winds moving again: according to the prophet Kalchas, Agamemnon must sacrifice his own daughter Iphigeneia to Artemis, the deity of Aulis. If he does, the winds will pick up and the Greeks’ victory over Troy will be assured. When Agamemnon heard this prophecy, he called for the armies to return home, knowing he could never kill his own daughter—but Menelaos begged his brother for help. Agamemnon has sent a letter to Clytemnestra asking her to send Iphigeneia to Aulis under false pretenses. He is claiming that the powerful warrior Achilles has demanded Iphigeneia as his bride, knowing that Clytemnestra would go along with such a plan.

Agamemnon regrets sending the letter and putting such a devastating plan of action in motion. He now wants to send a second letter begging his wife to ignore the first. The old man sympathetically asks Agamemnon to read the new letter aloud. Agamemnon reads the simple letter aloud: it asks Clytemnestra to keep Iphigeneia at home. The old man asks if Achilles will be angry if his bride doesn’t show up. Agamemnon reveals that the entire wedding is a ruse—Achilles doesn’t know his name has been used in the plot to lure Iphigeneia to Aulis.

The old man tells Agamemnon that he is “appall[ed]” by Agamemnon’s actions—but he is bound to do the king’s bidding. Agamemnon orders the old man to run swiftly to deliver the letter without stopping to rest even once. Agamemnon asks the old man to keep an eye out on the road for any chariot that might already be bearing Iphigeneia toward Aulis. If the old man meets her on the road he must escort her back home to Mycenae. Agamemnon, noticing that dawn has begun to break, hands the letter to the old man and bids him goodbye. As the old man leaves, Agamemnon laments the “bitterness” all mortals must face while alive. He returns to his tent.

A chorus of young Chalkidian women enters. The women breathlessly claim to have come from far away just to lay eyes on the vast Grecian army. They describe watching the soldiers, waiting for the winds to pick up, busying themselves by playing games and racing horses. The women know many of the soldiers by name, and seem rapturously spellbound by the men’s beauty, strength, and antics. The only thing that has brought the women more “pleasure” than looking upon the soldiers themselves is the sight of the massive Grecian fleet—there are ships from Phthia, the Argives, Attica, Boiotia, Mycenae, and more major Grecian cities. Everyone has banded together to defend Menelaos’s honor and secure vengeance “on the bride who […] abandoned his house to lie with a barbarian.” The women state that they will never forget the impressive, imposing sight of the fleet.

Menelaos and the old man enter. They are fighting. Menelaos tells the old man that he is “too loyal” to Agamemnon and that he shouldn’t meddle in things he doesn’t understand. The old man chides Menelaos for opening a letter not meant for him and begs Menelaos to give it back. When Menelaos refuses, the old man latches onto him. He says he doesn’t care if Menelaos beats him—he’ll die for his master if need be. The old man begins screaming for Agamemnon.

Agamemnon exits his tent and orders the old man back inside. He asks Menelaos what has happened. Menelaos holds up the letter and declares that it was meant to “betray” the Greek cause. He accuses Agamemnon of acting behind his back, then threatens to read the letter to the entire army. Agamemnon accuses Menelaos of spying. Menelaos justifies his spying by stating that he doesn’t trust Agamemnon—and never has. Agamemnon’s mind is “true to nothing and no one.”

Menelaos urges Agamemnon to remember how excited he was to lead an army against Troy. Agamemnon was, according to Menelaos, desperate to be general—but since the winds have stalled, Agamemnon has become isolated and insecure. Menelaos reminds Agamemnon that he came to Menelaos in a moment of desperation, begging to know what could be done to make the winds rise. Menelaos fetched the prophet Kalchas who decreed that Iphigeneia must be sacrificed to Artemis. Menelaos accuses Agamemnon of being the kind of man who “sweat[s] and clamber[s] for power” yet buckles under the pressure of leadership once he achieves it. Menelaos accuses Agamemnon of securing Greece’s “mortification” through his own cowardice. The chorus, still looking on, laments how terrible it is “when discord divides brothers.”

Agamemnon declares that it is now his turn to speak—but that unlike his brother, he plans to keep his speech “brief [and] restrained.” He states that “no man who amounts to anything is without a sense of shame” and he asks what, exactly, Menelaos is after. Menelaos picked an unvirtuous wife; Agamemnon doesn’t believe he himself should have to suffer because of his brother’s lapse in judgment. He accuses Menelaos of having abandoned his decency and his common sense alike in pursuit of Helen—instead, Agamemnon suggests, Menelaos should be grateful that the gods “took a bad wife off [his] hands.”

Agamemnon declares that he will not kill his child in pursuit of the false, shaky kind of justice that Menelaos now pursues in attacking Troy. In simply considering killing Iphigeneia, Agamemnon says, he has committed an “unholy crime” that he must repent for the rest of his life. Agamemnon asks Menelaos to do his best to understand. The chorus commends Agamemnon for staunchly “refusing to harm a child.”

Menelaos begs Agamemnon to stand beside him, share his troubles, and be a true friend and brother to him. Agamemnon, however, accuses Menelaos himself of acting unbrotherly. Menelaos asks if Agamemnon will really abandon the Grecian cause, but Agamemnon retorts that Greece, like Menelaos himself, has been “driven mad.” As Menelaos declares that he’ll find “other friends” to help him, a messenger enters and announces that Iphigeneia has arrived along with her mother, Clytemnestra, and her younger brother, Orestes. The messenger says he knows Agamemnon will be happy at the joyous news of his family’s arrival. The messenger also alerts Agamemnon to the fact that exciting rumors of a wedding are swirling throughout camp.

Agamemnon thanks the messenger and sends him inside to rest. Alone with Menelaos once again, Agamemnon offers up a lament: he regrets having “fallen into the snare of fate.” He has no idea what to do—men of his rank and stature are not allowed to show grief or uncertainty. Agamemnon declares himself a “slave of the mob [he] lead[s.]” He wonders how he will look his wife, daughter, and infant son in the face when he is about to do something so horrible. Agamemnon ends his rant by blaming Helen and Paris for all of his strife. The chorus declares that although they are women and strangers, they sympathize with the king’s struggles. 

Menelaos asks for Agamemnon’s hand. He takes it and swears upon it that by their father Atreus and their grandfather Pelops, he will not oppose Agamemnon any longer; he takes back all he said before. Menelaos begs Agamemnon not to kill Iphigeneia—it is not “just,” he says, that this brother should suffer so that he can be satisfied. Menelaos says that he can find a new wife, but he could never find a new brother were he to lose Agamemnon’s love or trust. He tells Agamemnon to order the troops to break up and retreat from Aulis. The chorus commends Menelaos’s “noble” words and declares that his ancestors would be proud of him.

Agamemnon thanks Menelaos honestly for his kind words but he declares that it is too late—Agamemnon has reached a point of no return and he will now be forced to kill his daughter by the very armies he’s gathered. If the troops hear that Agamemnon has sent his daughter home and betrayed their cause, they’ll revolt against him or perhaps even hunt Iphigeneia down and kill her themselves. Menelaos suggests they kill Kalchas the prophet to keep him from breathing a word about Agamemnon’s plot to sacrifice his daughter to Artemis.

Agamemnon points out that there is someone else who “knows everything”: Odysseus, the son of Sisyphos. Menelaos says that he doesn’t see a reason for Odysseus to rise up against either Agamemnon or himself. However, after thinking it over for a minute, Menelaos realizes that Odysseus has a “terrible love” of power. Agamemnon says he can picture Odysseus telling his army of Agamemnon’s failed promise and rallying them together to kill himself, Menelaos, and Iphigeneia. Agamemnon says that even if he were to escape home with his wife and children, Odysseus and his army could very well follow them there. Agamemnon curses the gods for rendering him “helpless.” He begs Menelaos not to let his wife learn anything of his plot and then he turns to the chorus and asks them to do the same. Menelaos goes back to the camp and Agamemnon retreats into his tent.

The chorus offers up another lament for those who have been “burned alive” by the madness of the passions inspired by the goddess of love, Aphrodite. The chorus begs the gods to “let [them] know love within reason.” They express their sympathies for Paris, whose worst crime was falling in love with the beautiful Helen—an incident that has now inspired the Greeks to arm themselves and head onward to Troy to sack the city.

Clytemnestra, Iphigeneia, and Orestes, escorted by a chorus of attendants, arrive in a chariot. The chorus of attendants announces their family’s lineage of great ancestors and rejoices in the “momentous […] occasion” that has brought them to Aulis. The chorus of Chalkidian women steps forward to help Clytemnestra and Iphigeneia from their chariot, explaining to the two Mycenean women that they, too, are strangers in the land of Aulis. Clytemnestra tells the chorus of women that their kind greeting is a good omen.

While the chorus of attendants removes the gifts comprising Iphigeneia’s dowry from the chariot and carries them inside, Clytemnestra gives a speech in which she fawns over her children. She tells the sleeping infant Orestes that when he wakes it will be his sister’s wedding day. Clytemnestra is clearly looking forward to Iphigeneia’s marriage to Achilles. As Agamemnon enters to greet his family, Iphigeneia and Clytemnestra rush to embrace him. Iphigeneia is especially happy to see her father—Clytemnestra remarks that Iphigeneia is the child who loves her father most. Iphigeneia thanks her father for bringing her here to be married but she remarks that her father’s eyes look “troubled.” Agamemnon replies only that a king has many burdens, but in an aside to the audience, he laments that he will not be able to “contain [his] suffering” much longer.

Agamemnon blames his sad mood on the impending war and the separation from his family it will bring. Iphigeneia says she wishes the men of Greece could lay down their weapons, but Agamemnon gravely retorts that the army must “destroy [many] others” before they rest. Iphigeneia laments that her father must leave her behind, declaring that she wishes she could accompany him to Troy. Agamemnon tells Iphigeneia that she has a long journey of her own to make—but before either of them can begin their journeys, he has a sacrifice to make here in Aulis. Iphigeneia expresses excitement about attending a sacrificial ceremony. Agamemnon again laments the terrible spot he’s in and begins crying about how much he’ll miss his daughter. Iphigeneia, however, still believes Agamemnon is talking about her impending marriage. She happily goes inside the tent. 

Agamemnon turns to face his wife, Clytemnestra. He begs her forgiveness for his show of grief over Iphigeneia’s “marriage.” Clytemnestra tells Agamemnon that she’s feeling the same grief but then she reassures him that they’ll get through their separation from their daughter together. She asks Agamemnon to tell her more about Achilles, the man Iphigeneia is to marry. Agamemnon reveals that Achilles is descended from a proud lineage: he is the daughter of Thetis, a water nymph, and Peleus, a powerful king. After hearing about the details of Achilles’s parentage, Clytemnestra declares him a suitable match for her daughter.

Clytemnestra asks if Agamemnon has made the required sacrifice to the gods on Iphigeneia’s behalf, and Agamemnon replies that he hasn’t yet. Clytemnestra asks about the other wedding preparations, such as the banquets for the men and women in attendance, but Agamemnon tells her that he wants her to return home before the wedding—he alone will give Iphigeneia away and hold the bridal torches at the ceremony. Clytemnestra says that she hates disobeying her husband but that she feels such a plan is wrong. Agamemnon reminds Clytemnestra that they have other daughters waiting at home and suggests his wife’s place is with them, but Clytemnestra refuses to leave before her Iphigeneia’s wedding. She turns and goes inside the tent.

Agamemnon laments having failed to send Clytemnestra away—now, she will be a direct witness to his terrible deceit. He goes off to meet with Kalchas, the prophet who will perform the sacrifice. Though Agamemnon hates what he must do, he knows he “owe[s] it to Greece.” He exits.

The chorus of Chalkidian women steps forward to sing of what Agamemnon and his army will encounter once they set sail for Troy. They predict that the Greek army will have Ares, the god of war, on their side as they storm the ramparts of Troy to repossess Helen. The women predict terrible slaughter and bloodshed and they pray that neither they themselves, nor their children or their children’s children, ever have to know such anguish and misery. The women hope that one day, the story of Helen will be little more than a distant myth to future generations. 

The younger soldier Achilles enters and demands to see Agamemnon. Achilles is upset and frustrated by the decision to keep the armies in Aulis for so long while waiting idly for the winds to change. Many of his men have left behind wives and children to participate in the “frenzy” of the war only to be left sitting idly while leadership—the “sons of Atreus”—fret over what to do. Achilles, on behalf of his men, demands an answer to how much longer it will be before the troops are able to set sail.

Clytemnestra exits the tent and introduces herself, greeting Achilles warmly. Achilles, however, is disgusted to see a woman at camp. He says he can’t be seen talking with women and begins to walk away. Clytemnestra begs Achilles to stop and she gives him her hand, reminding him that their families are soon to be united—he is about to marry her daughter. Achilles “recoils in horror” and accuses Clytemnestra of suffering “some delusion.” Clytemnestra tells Achilles it's okay to be shy, but Achilles insists he knows nothing of any impending marriage. Clytemnestra says that Achilles’s words are just as shocking to her as hers clearly are to him. She laments having been deceived by her husband. Declaring herself humiliated, she begins to go inside, but Achilles tells her to wait—he wants to go in and see Agamemnon himself.

Suddenly, a voice from inside calls to both Clytemnestra and Achilles—it is the old man. He asks if anyone is outside with them. They tell him they are alone. The old man comes outside, lamenting that what he has feared most has indeed come to pass. Clytemnestra begs her longtime servant to explain to her what’s going on. The old man tells Clytemnestra that Agamemnon plans to kill Iphigeneia with his own hands. Clytemnestra laments that her husband has gone mad and asks what “demon” could’ve tempted him to do such a terrible dead. The old man, however, says that no demon but rather the prophet Kalchas has decreed that only the sacrifice of Iphigeneia to Artemis can bring the winds needed to take the Greek army to Troy.

The old man laments the terrible fate that Iphigeneia and Clytemnestra now face but he also expresses sympathy for the “monstrous decision” Agamemnon has been forced to make. Clytemnestra asks how the old man came to learn all of this. He explains that Agamemnon ordered him to carry a letter to Clytemnestra asking her to cancel her journey to Aulis, but that Menelaos intercepted him from delivering it. Clytemnestra asks if Achilles has heard all the old man has said, and Achilles says he has. He declares that he’s taking none of it “lightly.”

Clytemnestra falls to her knees, grasps Achilles’s legs, and begs the “son of a goddess” to save her and Iphigeneia. Clytemnestra admits that she cannot blame Achilles if he does nothing to defend Iphigeneia—she knows he has been roped into this as unwittingly as the girl has—but she implores him to help her and her daughter. If Achilles does not defend them, Clytemnestra fears, all will be lost.

Achilles begins a speech: he declares that though he is full of anger, he has learned “to curb [his] grief in adversity.” He promises to help Clytemnestra—he will not let Iphigeneia be slaughtered by her father. If Iphigeneia were to die now, Achilles says, his “own body would be defiled” as well. He swears on his lineage that he will not let Agamemnon touch Iphigeneia. He condemns the king for using his name to lure an innocent girl into a “snare.” Achilles ends his speech by stating that although he is not “some great god,” he will do his best to become one in order to protect both Clytemnestra and Iphigeneia. The chorus of Chalkidian women praises Achilles for his bravery.

Clytemnestra thanks Achilles for his loyalty and kindness. She admits that while she is ashamed to concern him with her own sufferings, she knows the seriousness of her plight “deserves” his attention. She offers to bring forth Iphigeneia so that the girl might supplicate herself before Achilles and beg his help. Achilles, though, replies that Clytemnestra should let Iphigeneia remain “ignorant” of the terrible betrayal that’s been done unto her. Achilles doesn’t need Iphigeneia’s supplication to commit himself to her cause, he says—he is already committed and he pledges his hope that he will “live only if she does.”

Achilles tells Clytemnestra he has a plan. He suggests she go to Agamemnon herself, tell him she’s learned of his plot, and beg him to spare Iphigeneia—Clytemnestra may be able to persuade Agamemnon with her own words. If Agamemnon refuses her, Achilles says, then she can come to him for help. He promises not to stray far from the tent so that Clytemnestra won’t need to humiliate herself by wandering through the camp full of men looking for him should she need his assistance. Clytemnestra agrees to the plan and retreats into the tent. The old man follows her. Achilles exits, hiding himself nearby.

The chorus of Chalkidian women enters and sings a song telling the story of the blessed, joyful marriage of Achilles’s parents and a prophecy made by a herd of centaurs that the son they’d bear together would be “a light and a splendor” who would one day sail across the sea in golden armor to sack Troy. The chorus laments that Iphigeneia’s fate is not as illustrious as her would-be husband’s: her fate is to be marched to the sacrificial altar like a “spotted heifer.” The chorus cries that blasphemy has come to power and “men have put justice behind them.”

Clytemnestra comes out from the tent and declares that she cannot find her husband. Iphigeneia has learned of Agamemnon’s plans for her and cannot stop sobbing. Clytemnestra prays that her husband will return soon so that he can “stand convicted” of plotting his own daughter’s death. Right at that moment, Agamemnon enters and asks for Clytemnestra to call out for Iphigeneia—it is nearly time for the sacrifice that will sanctify her marriage. He is still unaware that Clytemnestra and Iphigeneia have discovered his plot. Clytemnestra decides to play along. She calls for Iphigeneia to come out of the tent with the baby Orestes swaddled in her arms. Iphigeneia comes outside, crying and hiding her face from her father with her robe.

Agamemnon asks Iphigeneia why she is crying and obscuring herself from his gaze. Clytemnestra steps forward to explain but then she declares that she “cannot think where to start [her] bitter story” as it is composed entirely of grief. She begs Agamemnon for his honesty. He promises to give it to her. Clytemnestra asks if Agamemnon intends to kill Iphigeneia. Agamemnon accuses his wife of “vile suspicion.” She points out that he hasn’t provided an answer. Agamemnon says he will not answer such an unreasonable question, but Clytemnestra keeps urging him to confess. When Agamemnon still refuses, she tells him that she already knows the whole story and that his “silence itself is a confession.”

Clytemnestra rails against Agamemnon. She reminds him that he killed her first husband, Tantalos, and the child they had together in order to marry her himself. In spite of the bloody, terrible beginning of their relationship, Clytemnestra has loved Agamemnon and has given him many children—and now, she proclaims, he has the audacity to murder one of them for the sake of his brother’s marriage to a “worthless woman.” Clytemnestra warns Agamemnon that if he kills Iphigeneia, sails away to war, and then returns home to kiss their remaining children and pretend like nothing has happened, she will turn against him forever. Clytemnestra ends her speech by begging Agamemnon to “be wise” and “turn back” from making a decision that will tear them apart forever. The chorus of Chalkidian women speaks up to back Clytemnestra’s entreaty and Agamemnon to heed his wife.

Iphigeneia steps forward, hands Orestes to her mother, and then stoops before Agamemnon and grabs his knees. She says that although she is not a gifted speaker who has the “tongue of Orpheus,” she hopes that her tears will persuade her father not to send her to her death. She reminds Agamemnon that she is his first child and she has always been an adoring “suppliant” to him. Iphigeneia has nothing to do with the strife Paris and Helen have caused and she should not have to die because of their folly. She ends her speech by asking her father to kiss her, at least, if he won’t answer or absolve her, so that she can remember the feeling as she dies. Agamemnon stoops to kiss her.

Iphigeneia then takes Orestes back from Clytemnestra and presents him to Agamemnon, begging the child to cry. She hopes that with his tears, he might move Agamemnon to take pity on her and respect both his children’s lives. She then hands Orestes back to Clytemnestra and she gives Agamemnon the chance to answer her.

Agamemnon laments that although he loves his children, he is “forced” to sacrifice Iphigeneia. All the armies of Greece are assembled and waiting to sail for Troy—but there is something deeper in their urgency. Agamemnon states that Aphrodite, the goddess of love, has moved the men of Greece to a frenzy. If he interferes with Aphrodite’s plans, he says, she will surely influence the army to round on Agamemnon and kill him and his family anyway. Agamemnon insists he’s not guided by Menelaos, but by the spirit of Greece itself. As a Greek man, Agamemnon cannot stand for a Trojan carrying off a Greek’s wife. He exits solemnly.

Clytemnestra angrily chastises her husband for running away from the daughter he has decided to give up to Hades, god of the underworld. Iphigeneia laments that she must “say good-bye to the light” and travel to the kingdom of the dead. She laments that Paris was ever born and curses Helen—both of them have condemned her to “fall to [her] ungodly father’s ungodly knife.” Iphigeneia continues her rant, railing against the very existence of Aulis, the fickle nature of the winds, and the cruel role of destiny. The chorus of Chalkidian women speaks up and tells Iphigeneia that she does not deserve the fate she’s soon to meet.

Iphigeneia calls out: she can see a group of men approaching. Clytemnestra looks into the distance and sees Achilles drawing near. Iphigeneia tries to hurry inside. When Clytemnestra asks Iphigeneia why she’s trying to hide, Iphigeneia says she’s embarrassed to meet the man she believed she’d marry. Clytemnestra, however, insists that now is “no time […] for delicacy.” Achilles, she tells Iphigeneia, is their last hope.

Achilles enters with several armed attendants. The sound of shouting can be heard offstage, and Achilles reports that the armies are calling for Iphigeneia’s sacrifice and Achilles’s own death for his part in trying to save her. Clytemnestra is scandalized to learn that the Greeks would’ve rebelled against one of their proudest soldiers, but Achilles states that his own army was the first men to turn against him when he declared that he would not allow his “bride” to be killed. Clytemnestra laments that all is lost.

As the shouting draws nearer, Achilles staunchly promises to protect Clytemnestra and Iphigeneia to his last breath—even if thousands of men, led by the powerful Odysseus, come to drag Iphigeneia away by her hair. Iphigeneia, however, steps forward and speaks to both her mother and Achilles. She declares that there is no use in fighting, or in Achilles or Clytemnestra—or both of them—giving their lives for her. She sees no use in “hold[ing] out against the inevitable”—she has decided to die in glory. Iphigeneia explains that “all the people […] of Greece” now turn to her for salvation—the outcome of the Trojan War depends solely on her. She can win the war for Greece by offering up her life and she no longer sees any sense in standing in the way of Greece’s freedom.

The chorus of Chalkidian women congratulates Iphigeneia on her “noble” decision in the face of a “sick” destiny and a terrible command from the goddess Artemis.

Achilles steps forward and addresses Iphigeneia. He says that he’d be lucky to have her for a wife but he knows that she belongs to Greece. Still, he makes one last plea for her to resist fate, resist the gods, and agree to return home with him as his bride. Iphigeneia, though, states that her mind is made up. She doesn’t want Achilles to fight or die for her—all she wants now is to save Greece. Achilles applauds Iphigeneia’s courage and assures her that he will accompany her to the altar. If she should change her mind, he will be ready to intervene on her behalf and stay by her side until the final second of her life. He bids her goodbye and he heads for the temple. 

Iphigeneia turns to the weeping Clytemnestra, begging her not to shed any more tears. She asks her mother for a favor. Clytemnestra replies that she will do anything for her daughter, and Iphigeneia begs her mother not to mourn her after she is dead. Instead, she wants Clytemnestra to recognize that they have been “blessed by fortune”—Iphigeneia alone can bring salvation to Greece.

Clytemnestra hands Orestes to Iphigeneia and tells her to say goodbye to her brother. Iphigeneia embraces the baby. Clytemnestra asks if there is anything she can do back in Argos on Iphigeneia’s behalf. Iphigeneia asks only that her mother not grow to hate Agamemnon—she points out that what he does now he does against his will. Clytemnestra, however, suggests that Agamemnon will face an unhappy lot because of what he is doing to Iphigeneia.

Clytemnestra offers to lead Iphigeneia to the altar, but Iphigeneia insists Clytemnestra stay behind—she would rather one of her father’s bring her up. She calls forth an attendant. Clytemnestra begs Iphigeneia not to leave, but Iphigeneia reminds her mother not to protest or cry. Iphigeneia turns to the chorus and asks them to join her in a hymn to Artemis which will “celebrate [her] fate.”

Iphigeneia begins singing a “triumphant lament” about how she will be the one to conquer Troy. She blesses Artemis and says she is looking forward to “wash[ing] away with [her] own blood” the conflict between Greece and Troy. Iphigeneia sings praises to Aulis and to her home of Mycenae and then she states that she is looking forward to her journey to a new home. She exits with her attendant. Clytemnestra, carrying Orestes, goes into Agamemnon’s tent.

The chorus sings wistfully about Iphigeneia’s solemn but purposeful march to the sacrificial altar. They describe the beautiful garlands that will adorn her body and her “lovely throat” which will soon be cut by her father’s own hand. The women raise their voices up to Artemis, begging the goddess to be pleased enough by this sacrifice to let the armies of Greece sail to Troy—and to Agamemnon’s victory.

A messenger enters and calls for Clytemnestra to come out and receive a message. Clytemnestra exits the tent, carrying Orestes and “shaking with terror” at the idea of a message carrying even more grief. The messenger, however, declares that he has “miraculous” news about Iphigeneia. The messenger begins telling the story of Iphigeneia’s march to the sacred altar: when Agamemnon saw her approach, he groaned and cried, but Iphigeneia approached him gently and gave herself willingly to him. The rallied troops “marveled” at her bravery and the ritual began. As Kalchas took up the knife and brought it down to Iphigeneia’s throat, however, a miracle took place—Iphigeneia vanished.

The messenger reports that in Iphigeneia’s place, there was suddenly a gasping and bleeding deer—the animal associated with Artemis, goddess of the moon and the hunt. Kalchas decreed the miracle a blessing from Artemis herself and he declared the winds high enough to sail upon. The messenger reports that Iphigeneia has been “taken up into heaven,” and thus Clytemnestra’s grief should be quieted and her hatred of her husband should come to an end. The chorus of Chalkidian women joyously celebrates that Iphigeneia is not dead in the underworld, but alive and in heaven with the gods. Clytemnestra, however, isn’t certain whether she should believe the messenger’s tale.

Agamemnon approaches, surrounded by generals, priests, soldiers, and sailors—all of whom are ready to sail for Troy at last. Agamemnon confirms the messenger’s tale and bids Clytemnestra return home with Orestes. He promises to write her from Troy but warns her that the journey may yet be a long one. The chorus calls out to bless Agamemnon’s journey across the sea. Agamemnon and his coterie depart. Clytemnestra, carrying Orestes, heads into her husband’s tent without looking back.