Part Five. The House of Atreus Summary and Analysis

The House of Atreus was one of the unluckiest families in Greek mythology. It began with Tantalus, who served up his own son at a banquet for the gods, perhaps to test or mock them. The gods were furious and sent him to Tartarus, a section for punishment in the underworld. He had an eternal thirst and hunger, surrounded by water and grapes, but was never able to eat or drink. His son Pelops was restored to life by the gods. He married Princess Hippodamia after defeating her father in a chariot race to win her hand. He had help from her father's charioteer Myrtilus, who sabotaged the king's chariot. However, Pelops then refused to honor his bribe and killed Myrtilus, who called down a curse on his already corrupted family...