Ἰφιγένεια ἡ ἐν Ταύροις
Iphigenia in Tauris
Euripides · first staged c. 414 BC
Iphigenia, saved from the altar at Aulis, is Artemis’ priestess among the Taurians, who sacrifice every Greek who lands. Two strangers arrive, and one is her brother Orestes.
Persons, in order of appearance
- Ιφ.Iphigenia
- Ορ.Orestes
- Πυ.Pylades
- Χο.Chorus
- Βο.Herdsman
- Θο.Thoas
- Αγ.Messenger
- Αθ.Athena
Translations
- E. P. Coleridgeprose · 1891 · aligned by line · with Murray's Greek
- A. S. Wayverse · 1912 · aligned by speech · with Murray's Greek
- Gilbert Murrayverse · aligned by speech · with Murray's Greek
Greek texts
Cite as Eur. IT 1–1499
Full synopsis (tells the ending)
Iphigenia was not killed at Aulis: Artemis carried her off to the Taurians on the Black Sea, where she serves as priestess and any Greek who lands is sacrificed. Orestes and Pylades land, sent by Apollo to steal the goddess's image, and are captured. Iphigenia questions the prisoners about Argos and decides to spare one to carry a letter home. The letter is addressed to Orestes, and brother and sister know each other. They trick King Thoas with a purification rite, escape with the image, and Athena stops the pursuit.
Drawing: Line drawing after R. Jaene's 1849 lithograph of the Buckingham vase (Archäologische Zeitung 7, Taf. XII): Iphigenia handing her letter to Pylades before the temple, Orestes, Eros, Artemis and an attendant; retraced.