Chapter 20: For Iphigenia

1194 BC Aulis, Greece

In the port city of Aulis, if one were to look from its docks, they would see the horizon littered with vessels all varying in size and carrying different banners.

With the wind ceased, the citizens of Aulis could clearly see who the ships belong to.

Flags of the Peloponnese, the Dodecanese Islands, Crete, and Ithaca were amongst the many that could be seen spread across the horizon, with the biggest of the penteconters (a vessel normally 92-108ft consisting of fifty rowers) belonging to the King of Mycenae, Agamemnon, his vessel 120ft, while the Spartan King and brother to Agamemnon, Menelaus is close behind, his vessel 113ft.

On the deck of the, "King's Queen", the main Mycenaean ship, standing on its bow, Agamemnon could be seen deep in thought, his eyes blankly staring at the placid water.

Before his arrival at the port of Aulis, Agamemnon sought to find a man by the name of Calchas, who was said to be an apostle of the Gods, the sayer of truths.

Located on the island of Megara, when Agamemnon found the young seer, the King of Mycenae was told that the war they will fight would last a decade.

"A serpent devoured a sparrow and her children and then it too was no more, turning itself to stone. Ten animals, ten years." The young Calchas told the King.

During his stay in Megara, Agamemnon proposed a hunting trip for his soldiers and Kings present to keep spirits high and battle senses sharpened.

"King of Mycenae, I suggest a another game to pursue. It is known that the deer is a sacred animal to the Goddess Artemis. Should you kill such a symbol, the Goddess Artemis will surely punish you sire. Killing this deer would be considered a great disrespect to the Goddess. Please King of Mycenae , select another." Calchas informed Agamemnon in a pleading tone.

Just behind a bush, with his bow primed, the King of Mycenae, along with the group of men he was accompanied by, did not heed the warning of the young seer.

Releasing their arrows all at once, the ones who heard the seer's pleas, were waiting for something divine in nature to happen. But nothing did.

The deer simply died, it's body riddled with the arrows of Agamemnon and his men.

"HAHAHA! You speak of the divine and yet nothing happened. All that occurred was arrows shot and a deer dying, nothing divine about it. Men, bring the deer! Tonight we feast!" Agamemnon haughtily retorted, his back turned to the seer as he walked away.

Stopping the King of Mycenae is his tracks, Calchas spoke, "For such a precious symbol killed, so too will your precious be lost." The young seer finished cryptically, his voice solemn and soft.

Upon arrival in Aulis, it was only then Agamemnon understood the seer's words.

The winds that would further their journey to Troy had suddenly vanished. Calchas had said he had seen the way to Troy, however, it could only be made through sacrifice.

The sacrifice was not an animal nor a random citizen, if it was, Agamemnon would not be so deep in thought. It was his eldest daughter, Iphigenia.

He tried to refuse, in fact he did refuse. 'What man would sacrifice his own child?!' He thought.

The Kings amongst him were quick to move against him however. And soon, he was given an ultimatum. "Either you do it, or we kill you and do it ourselves."

To the King of Mycenae, Agamemnon, he had no other choice.

He sent word back home to his wife and daughter pretending to request her presence for her to be wed to the young warrior Achilles, only to sacrifice her to the Goddess Artemis in hopes she brings the winds back and their journey to war can continue.

It's a selfish request, and he's battled mentally with himself multiple times, but ultimately it must be done. For the good of Greece, she must be sacrificed.

'Iphigenia, Clytemnestra, I'm sorry.' Agamemnon thought.

"My King, your eldest daughter, Iphigenia has arrived." A soldier said, bringing Agamemnon out of his thoughts.

"I see. Thank you." Agamemnon spoke solemnly, turning from the water to face the soldier.

The Mycenaean soldier wore a bronze colored helmet with horns on its forehead and also a bronze cuirass that instead of like Spartans, which only covered the chest, these had plates at the bottom of the cuirass forming a bronze skirt reaching their legs.

"Lead the way." He gestured, as he began to walk, following the him off the vessel.

Mount Olympus, Huntress Fields

Surrounded on all sides by tall oak trees and animals leisurely gallivanting about, three individuals could seen seen in the center of a field.

"Why is it any of your business what I do with this matter? He killed my sacred animal. He must be punished." Artemis growled, her hand caressing a Primo's fur.

"Yes, he must; but at least spare the girl." Ares sighed, his hands on his hips. "You just want to punish him right? Why use her? As you can see, the human King sent word back home under the pretense of something else. He cares nothing for his daughter's feelings. To him the spoils of war are more significant than his own bloods life. Instead of sacrificing something physical, something he doesn't care for; why not ask for his pride? Or give him an ultimatum between glory and death." Ares suggested.

He could care less about Iphigenia, but remembering her story, Ares had to do something. 'She was under the impression she was getting married to Achilles even while being led to the sacrificial platform. Poor child.' Ares thought. 'Hopefully I could help even if a little.'

"It's too late." Artemis replied solemnly. "It was a spur of the moment request. Normally I would never deem human sacrifice acceptable, but at the time I was so livid. The king heard the young seer's warnings and yet continued to hunt my sacred animal, not only killing it, but mocking me while doing so. I couldn't take such insolence. So, with Styx as my witness, I stopped the wind for their journey forward. Only when something of equal value is sacrificed will I return it." She finished, her gentle ministrations putting Primo to sleep.

Accepting the inevitable, Ares reluctantly woke up his sleeping boar and both made their way to the exit of the Huntress Fields.

"But," Artemis's voice stopped the two in their tracks. "I can do something. I too do not wish to she an innocent child die regardless of my earlier anger."

Not looking back, Ares raised his hand in acknowledgment to her words, a small smile adorning his face, as he and Primo left the Huntress Fields, his destination a certain port city.

Aulis, Greece

High in the air, overlooking a platform with numerous people gathered around it, Ares could feel his heartbeat in his ears.

He can see the King of Mycenae trembling behind his serene looking daughter. A smile on her as she says a few words, the blade already drawing blood from her neck.

With a terrible cry, Agamemnon slit his eldest daughter's throat, crimson blood staining the alter and himself.

To all, it would seem the young Iphigenia died, as Agamemnon carried her body and placed it on the alter, weeping heavily over her corpse. But to Ares, the corpse the King is weeping over is an illusion, more specifically, a lamb.

As the blade passed through Iphigenia's throat, from the corner of his eye, Ares could see Artemis release a silver arrow, piercing the young woman's chest and passing through her, taking with it her soul.

Ares followed the arrow as it returned to Artemis, on its tip he could see the incorporeal form of Iphigenia, confused and depressed.

"She will be a priestess in my temple." Artemis told Ares, her back turned toward him. "I don't know why you wanted this child to be saved, but your request has been met. When the time comes, I expect you to honor this." She continued, climbing atop her Hippalectryon and flying off in the direction of the ancient city Ephesus, (modern day Selcuk, Turkey) in which her temple is located.

As soon as Artemis departed, the winds that were not present, presented themselves. A strong and fierce wind blew in the direction of Troy.

"It seems the Goddess has been appeased!" A group of Mycenaean soldiers cheered, followed by the rest of the Greek contingent.

Although he too was happy their journey could continue, Agamemnon sought to burn Troy to its very last man and use its ashes to honor his late daughter.

'Your sacrifice will not be in vain my child. Troy will burn for what they made me do.' Agamemnon thought, his fist clenched as he makes his way back to the Kings Queen to set sail.

"For Iphigenia!" A Mycenaean soldier shouted. "For Iphigenia!" All the Greek vessels bellowed.