Ifigènia

Based on Euripides’ Iphigenia in Aulus and Iphigenia in Tauris, Alícia Gorina takes a humanist, critical and ironic look at this mythical figure who exists somewhere between order and revolt, and at the sacred value of sacrifice in classical tragedy.

Iphigenia, the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra and the sister of Orestes –the future legitimiser of Athenian democracy– has to be sacrificed so the gods turn in favour of the Greek soldiers so they can reach Troy to win back Helen. While her father is debating whether or not to murder his daughter, the army is desperate camping on the beach. Soon they are left without any food, summer is around the corner, impatience surges, the atmosphere is suffocating… And yet again, the virgin is about to be sacrificed. But who is Iphigenia? Does she agree to be immolated for the greater good? Or is she the victim that ends up representing the purest goodness? An innocent girl or an aware woman? A role model worthy of homage? An accomplice of the violence? Or a rebel?

Who is who
Agamemnon, king of Argos, son of Atreus, brother of Menelaus, husband of Clitemnestra and father of Iphigenia, Orestes, Chrysotimes and Electra.
Clitemnestra, daughter of Tindareus and Leda, kings of Sparta, sister of Helena.
Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon and Clitemnestra, sister of Orestes and niece of Menelaus and Helena.
Orestes, son of Agamemnon and Clitemnestra, brother of Iphigenia.
Menelaus, king of Sparta, brother of Agamemnon, husband of Helena.
Achilles, son of Tethys and Peleus and great hero of the Trojan war by killing Hector, the brother of Paris.
Chorus, in the text of Euripides is formed by a group of young women from the city of Chalcis, opposite the Aulid...

Artemis, sister of Apollo, goddess of hunting, animals and virgin nature.
Apollo, brother of Artemis, god of medicine, music and poetry. It represents harmony, order and reason: thought and language.
Athena, goddess of war, wisdom and craftsmanship, and protector of the king and the city of Athens. It becomes symbol of democracy.

To learn more:
La bella Helena, by Jacques Offenbach, dir. Pere Planella
The Illiad, by Homer
Troy, by Wolfgang Petersen (2004)
The Iliad Project (The Hades Community)
Let's Talk About Myths, Baby!
Greek Mithology
Iphigenia at Biblioteca de Catalunya
Iphigenia at Europeana