Atreus and Thyestes
Atreus and Thyestes
In a Nutshell
Okay, we've really got to warn you guys: this myth is not for the faint of heart. The tale of the awful, sibling rivalry of Atreus and Thyestes is full of murder, incest, and cannibalism... yes, cannibalism. If you're the sort of person who doesn't flinch when watching Saw or whatever new horror flick Rob Zombie is putting out there, then this is the myth for you.
Of course, for those of us who shy away from horror movies or violent entertainment in general, this story still has something for you. Even though it's definitely one of the more horrific of all the Greek myths, it doesn't celebrate violence at all. Instead, it asks us to look at just how horrible people can be to each other, when they let lust for revenge take control. Though this is the story of two brothers who make total war on each other, ultimately this is a tale that begs for peace.
Shmoop Connections
Explore the ways this myth connects with the world and with other topics on Shmoop
In Edgar Allan Poe's genre-defining mystery story, "The Purloined Letter," the rivalry between crack detective Dauphin and the mysterious G is compared to the sibling rivalry of Atreus and Thyestes.Atreus's gory deed curses his descendants in equally gory ways. Check out Aeschylus's tragedy, Agamemnon, for all the bloody details.
The curse on the house of Atreus continues to cause awful (like really awful) things to happen in Aeschylus's Libation Bearers.
Man, this curse on the house of Atreus just won't quit. You get the skinny on it from a different angle in Electra by Sophocles.