Classical Mythology

THE MYCENAEAN SAGA 407

This version is simpler and probably older than the better-known one, ac-

cording to which Pelops bribed Oenomaiis' charioteer, Myrtilus (son of the god

Hermes), to remove the linchpins from Oenomaiis' chariot so that it crashed dur-

ing the pursuit, killing Oenomaiis.

So Pelops won Hippodamia and drove away with her, accompanied by Myr-

tilus. Now Myrtilus expected that Pelops would reward him by allowing him to

enjoy Hippodamia on the first night. At a resting place on the journey, he attempted

to violate her, and when Pelops discovered this, he threw Myrtilus from a cliff into

the sea. As Myrtilus fell, he cursed Pelops and his descendants. This curse, and the

blood-guilt of the murder of Myrtilus, led to the misfortunes of the House of Atreus.

Seneca, however, whose tragedy Thyestes is the only classical drama on this theme

to survive, connects the murder with the crime of Tantalus (Thyestes 138-148):

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Neither right nor shared crimes have prevailed. Betrayed, the master [Oeno-

maiisl of Myrtilus has perished, and he, meeting with the same loyalty [from

Pelops] as he had shown [to Oenomaiis] has given his name to the noble sea

[the Myrtoan Sea].... The child Pelops, running to kiss his father, was met with

the impious sword and fell, a young victim at the hearth. He was cut up by your

hand, Tantalus, so that you might make a feast for your guests, the gods.

ATREUS AND THYESTES

Pelops returned to Pisa and became king in place of Oenomaiis. His children,

Thyestes and Atreus, quarreled over the kingdom of Mycenae, which had been

offered to "a son of Pelops" in obedience to an oracle. It was agreed that the

possessor of a golden-fleeced ram should become king. According to Euripides

(Electra 698-725), Pan brought the golden-fleeced ram to Atreus, and the people

of Mycenae were celebrating his succession to the throne:

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The golden censers were set out, and throughout the city the altar-fires blazed.

The flute, the Muses' servant, sounded its music, most beautiful. The lovely

dances spread, honoring the golden ram—of Thyestes. For he had persuaded

Atreus' own wife [Aërope] with secret love and took the talisman to his house.

Then he came to the assembly-place and cried out that he had the horned sheep

in his house, the golden-fleeced one.

Euripides further says that Zeus, in anger at Thyestes' deception, caused the

sun to travel in the opposite direction. So Thyestes for a time enjoyed the re-

ward of his adultery, and Atreus was banished. Later, Atreus returned and be-

came king, exiling Thyestes in his turn, only to recall him and avenge himself

for Aërope's seduction. He pretended to be reconciled with Thyestes and invited

him to a banquet to celebrate the reconciliation. He killed Thyestes' sons and

gave them to him to eat (the banquet is described in the fifth act of Seneca's

Thyestes in a scene of overpowering horror). Too late, Thyestes realized what he

had eaten. As the heavens darkened and the sun hid from sight of the crime,

Thyestes cursed Atreus and went into exile.