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Lesson 1 (from Thyestes)

Objective

One of the central themes of "Thyestes" is the human tendency to always want more. Tantalus, after killing his son to serve the gods, is punished in the afterlife for his sins connected to his insatiable desire for power by constantly being surrounded by delicious food and drinks that disappear whenever he draws near, leaving him in a constant state of wanting. His son, Pelops, desired nothing more than power and, through treacherous means, won the crown of King Oenomaus. It is this crown, though, that causes the most contention between his two sons, Atreus and Thyestes. The two exist in a state of conflict over who rules the kingdom and the crown passes back and forth between the two of them through an increasingly set of violent and manipulative maneuvers. Finally, Atreus, unhinged with anger at his brother, decides it is time to punish Thyestes...

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