Thyestes
heroBrother of Atreus who seduced his sister-in-law and was tricked into eating his own children at the feast of Atreus.
The Myth
His brother served him his own sons for dinner — then showed him their hands and heads on a platter. The feud between Atreus and Thyestes began when Thyestes seduced Atreus's wife Aerope and stole a golden lamb that guaranteed kingship of Mycenae. Atreus pretended to reconcile, invited Thyestes to a feast, and served him the flesh of his own murdered sons. When Thyestes had eaten, Atreus revealed the children's remains. The sun itself reversed course in horror. Thyestes was exiled and later fathered Aegisthus by his own daughter (on an oracle's advice), and Aegisthus would eventually murder Agamemnon. The curse of Atreus echoes through every generation until Orestes breaks it.
Parents
Children
Symbols
Fun Fact
The sun reversed its course in the sky when Thyestes unknowingly ate his children — the cosmos itself recoiled.
Explore Further
Atreus
heroKing of Mycenae who murdered his nephews and fed them to his brother Thyestes, establishing the...
Aegisthus
heroSon of Thyestes who murdered Agamemnon to avenge his father, ruling Mycenae with Clytemnestra for...
Pelops
heroPelops was the prince served as food to the gods by his father Tantalus, restored to life with an...
Pelops (King)
heroSon of Tantalus, restored to life by the gods with an ivory shoulder, who won his bride by cheating...
Agamemnon
heroAgamemnon led the Greek coalition against Troy but was murdered upon return by his wife...
Hippodamia of the Lapiths
heroLapith princess whose wedding to Pirithous was disrupted when centaurs attempted to abduct her,...
Orestes
heroOrestes killed his mother to avenge his father — then was acquitted by Athena's court.
Itys
heroYoung son of Tereus and Procne murdered by his own mother and served as food to his father in...
Procne
heroAthenian princess married to Tereus who killed her own son Itys to avenge her sister Philomela's...
Aegis
conceptThe aegis was a divine shield or breastplate belonging to Zeus and wielded by Athena, fringed with...
Mycenae
placeMycenae was the great Bronze Age citadel in the Argolid, seat of King Agamemnon who led the Greek...
Absyrtus
heroSon of King Aeetes of Colchis, murdered and dismembered by his sister Medea to slow their father's...