Alete
Encyclopedia
For other mythological heroes, see Aletes
In Greek mythology
, Aletes was the son of Aegisthus
and Clytemnestra
, the king and queen of Mycenae
. He had two sisters: Erigone
and Helen. When they were young, their parents were killed by Orestes
, who was their half-brother and the son of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon
(this was in revenge for Clytemnestra killing Agamemnon, which she did in revenge for Agamemnon killing their daughter Iphigenia). The infant Helen was also killed or at least died young.
In most accounts, Orestes leaves Mycenae after he kills his mother and is pursued by the Furies. He wanders, is purified, and eventually marries his cousin Hermione
, who lives in Sparta (he is also said to have traveled to Crimea
to visit Iphigenia, who in some stories miraculously survived her father's attempt to sacrifice her to Artemis
).
Meanwhile, Aletes has come of age (14?), and he assumes the throne at Mycenae. Orestes returns with troops, kills Aletes, and takes the throne. Orestes is said to have a son, Penthilus
, with his half-sister Erigone, though stories differ as to whether this was by rape or if they married. Some say Erigone hanged herself.
Aletes
Aletes may refer to:* Aletes , the Greek mythology figure who was killed by Orestes* Aletes , a Trojan counselor depicted in the Aeneid.* Aletes, son of Hippotes* Aletes, son of Icarius* Aletes, the plant genus...
In Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, Aletes was the son of Aegisthus
Aegisthus
In Greek mythology, Aegisthus was the son of Thyestes and of Thyestes' daughter, Pelopia....
and Clytemnestra
Clytemnestra
Clytemnestra or Clytaemnestra , in ancient Greek legend, was the wife of Agamemnon, king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Mycenae or Argos. In the Oresteia by Aeschylus, she was a femme fatale who murdered her husband, Agamemnon – said by Euripides to be her second husband – and the Trojan princess...
, the king and queen of Mycenae
Mycenae
Mycenae is an archaeological site in Greece, located about 90 km south-west of Athens, in the north-eastern Peloponnese. Argos is 11 km to the south; Corinth, 48 km to the north...
. He had two sisters: Erigone
Erigone (daughter of Aegisthus)
In Greek mythology Erigone was the daughter of Aegisthus and Clytemnestra, rulers of Mycenae. By her half-brother, Orestes, Erigone was the mother of Penthilus. She would have also been slain by Orestes along with her brother Aletes if not for the intervention of Diana, who rescued her and made her...
and Helen. When they were young, their parents were killed by Orestes
Orestes (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Orestes was the son of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon. He is the subject of several Ancient Greek plays and of various myths connected with his madness and purification, which retain obscure threads of much older ones....
, who was their half-brother and the son of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon
Agamemnon
In Greek mythology, Agamemnon was the son of King Atreus and Queen Aerope of Mycenae, the brother of Menelaus, the husband of Clytemnestra, and the father of Electra and Orestes. Mythical legends make him the king of Mycenae or Argos, thought to be different names for the same area...
(this was in revenge for Clytemnestra killing Agamemnon, which she did in revenge for Agamemnon killing their daughter Iphigenia). The infant Helen was also killed or at least died young.
In most accounts, Orestes leaves Mycenae after he kills his mother and is pursued by the Furies. He wanders, is purified, and eventually marries his cousin Hermione
Hermione
Hermione may refer to:* Hermione , a female given name* Hermione Granger, a main character in the Harry Potter novels and films, seven ships of the Royal Navy...
, who lives in Sparta (he is also said to have traveled to Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
to visit Iphigenia, who in some stories miraculously survived her father's attempt to sacrifice her to Artemis
Artemis
Artemis was one of the most widely venerated of the Ancient Greek deities. Her Roman equivalent is Diana. Some scholars believe that the name and indeed the goddess herself was originally pre-Greek. Homer refers to her as Artemis Agrotera, Potnia Theron: "Artemis of the wildland, Mistress of Animals"...
).
Meanwhile, Aletes has come of age (14?), and he assumes the throne at Mycenae. Orestes returns with troops, kills Aletes, and takes the throne. Orestes is said to have a son, Penthilus
Penthilus
- Son of Orestes and Erigone :Penthilus was the illegitimate son of half-siblings Orestes and Erigone. Erigone was the daughter of Clytemnestra and Aigisthos , while Orestes was the son of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon. Erigone is said to have hanged herself. Orestes was ruler over much of the...
, with his half-sister Erigone, though stories differ as to whether this was by rape or if they married. Some say Erigone hanged herself.