Euripides

"Iphigenia at Aulis" dramatises the myth of Iphigenia, the young virgin sacrificed by her father Agamemnon at the start of the expedition against Troy. The ongoing debates around Iphigenia's voluntary sacrifice, the corruption of the play's moral universe, and the corruption of its text make "Iphigenia at Aulis" one of Euripides' most intriguing and challenging plays. This Companion provides a summary of the plot, discusses the characters and main themes of the play, examines its mythological background, and explores the cultural, political, institutional, and theatrical contexts within which it was originally composed and performed. It also maps the changing fortunes and meanings of the play and outlines the history of its interpretations on page, stage, and screen.