Clytemnestra (novel)

Clytemnestra and her sister Helen grow up in Sparta, daughters of King Tyndareus and his wife Leda. Helen is clever but physically weaker; Clytemnestra defends her from other girls. In particular, the girls quarrel with their age-mate Cynisca. Rumors about Helen's parentage make her childhood difficult; some say that she was conceived after Zeus raped her mother Leda, while others state that she is a mortal bastard.

Clytemnestra's twin brothers Castor and Polydeuces plan to leave Sparta to join Jason and the Argonauts. Clytemnestra weds Tantalus and soon becomes pregnant. Tantalus returns to his kingdom temporarily, leaving Clytemnestra with her parents.

Meanwhile, political turmoil erupts in the nearby city-state of Mycenae. King Atreus is murdered by his nephew Aegisthus. The sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus, flee their city and seek refuge in Sparta. Agamemnon is respected by the Spartan men but abuses the female servants. Tyndareus refuses to send them away. Eventually, the brothers reclaim their throne, and Aegisthus is exiled.

Tyndareus declares that he will hold a contest for Helen's hand in marriage. He forces all potential suitors to swear an oath to support Helen's eventual husband. Helen chooses to marry Menelaus.

Clytemnestra goes into labor and gives birth to a healthy son. Assisted by Clytemnestra's rival Cynisca, Agamemnon kills Tantalus as well as the baby. Tyndareus was aware of this murderous scheme; he approved it in order to strengthen the alliance between Sparta and Mycenae. Clytemnestra is forced to marry Agamemnon.

Fifteen years later, Clytemnestra and Agamemnon have children, including Iphigenia, Orestes, and Elektra. She returns to Sparta for her father's funeral. There, she kills Cynisca. She learns that Helen is hosting Paris, a prince of Troy. Helen confesses to her sister that she and Paris have begun an affair. Castor is killed in a dispute involving women. On the day she learns of her brother's death, Clytemnestra also learns that Helen has left Menelaus for Paris.

Drawing on their oath, Agamemnon and Menelaus raise an army from among Helen's former suitors. Clytemnestra and her daughter Iphigenia are summoned to Aulis. Agamemnon claims that he has arranged a marriage between Iphigenia and Achilles. At Aulis, the Greek ships are trapped by a lack of wind. On the orders of the seer Calchas, Agamemnon sacrifices his own daughter to win the favor of Artemis and allow the ships to sail.

Nine years later, the Trojan War still rages, and an embittered Clytemnestra rules in her husband's absence. Agamemnon's cousin Aegisthus returns from exile and seeks shelter with Clytemnestra. Clytemnestra and Aegisthus begin an affair, which scandalizes Mycenae. Clytemnestra executes two city elders who oppose her affair.

Clytemnestra and Aegisthus plan to murder Agamemnon upon his imminent return to Mycenae. She sends her son Orestes to Sparta, fearing that he will be honor-bound to avenge his father's death. Agamemnon returns to the city with Cassandra, a Trojan princess that he has taken as a slave.

Clytemnestra kills Calchas in revenge for her daughter's sacrifice. She then confronts Agamemnon and kills him in his own bath. A horrified Elektra finds her father's corpse. Meanwhile, Aegisthus kills Cassandra; he assumes that Clytemnestra wants her husband's new concubine dead. Clytemnestra finds Cassandra's body and weeps.

Clytemnestra consolidates power in Mycenae. Elektra vows revenge against her mother.