Iphigenia Among the Taurians

play by Euripides

Also known as: “Iphigeneia en Taurois”, “Iphigenia in Tauris”

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Greek:: Iphigeneia en Taurois

Also translated as:: Iphigenia in Tauris

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Iphigenia Among the Taurians, tragicomedy by Euripides, performed about 413 bce and consisting chiefly of a recognition scene followed by a clever escape.

In the play Iphigenia has been saved by the goddess Artemis from sacrifice and now serves the goddess’s temple at Tauris in Thrace. Her brother Orestes, who is still seeking to appease the Furies for his crime of matricide, is ordered by Apollo to obtain the statue of Artemis from Tauris and to return it to Athens. Knowing that all strangers in Tauris are to be sacrificed to the goddess, Orestes nonetheless journeys to Thrace, where he is captured and delivered to Iphigenia for sacrifice. She recognizes him, and, with the help of Athena, they escape from Tauris with the statue.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.