

Elektra: Revenge in Ancient Greece
Agamemnon's Sacrifice and Clytemnestra's Revenge
- Agamemnon sacrifices his daughter Iphigenia to appease Artemis.
- Clytemnestra, Agamemnon's wife, murders him in revenge, leading to Electra's quest for justice.
Reinterpreting Electra
- Ancient Greek playwrights like Sophocles and Euripides created different versions of Electra's story.
- Modern authors continue this tradition, reimagining myths for contemporary audiences.
Electra's Evolving Role
- In Aeschylus's version, Electra supports Orestes's revenge.
- In Sophocles and Euripides's versions, Electra becomes the central figure.
































Few figures in Greek mythology embody vengeance like Elektra, daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. Betrayal, grief, and justice shaped her tragic fate.
In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Professor Armand D’Angour to explore Elektra’s story and its powerful new London stage production starring Brie Larson. Along the way, they delve into Sophocles' and Euripides' strikingly different portrayals - one noble and resolute, the other bitter and broken - unpacking what these versions reveal about morality, fate, and female agency in the ancient world.
See Brie Larson star as Elektra in London's West End: https://www.thedukeofyorks.com/elektra
Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.
All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds
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