Prologue, 1-39. (Watchman)

The watchman at Argos sees the beacon signaling the fall of Troy and return of Agamemnon. He goes to tell the queen.

anapests, 40-103. Twelve elders of Argos come to ask Clytemnestra the news. Simile of the vultures. strophe-antistrophe A-F, 104-257. The story of Aulis: two eagles devour a pregnant hare; Calchas interprets the portent as a sign of the future fall of Troy and the present wrath of Artemis; to appease the adverse winds, Agamemnon consents to sacràifice his daughter; the portrait of Iphigeneia at the altar. 
"Hymn to Zeus": 160-183.

Clytemnestra announces of the fall of Troy. At the Chorus' disbelief, she explains the network of signal beacons by which Agamemnon announces his success. Clytemnestra imagines scenes of horror in the sacked city.

Thanks to Zeus, who has repaid the folly of Paris. But the loss to the body-changer Ares has been tremendous and the citizens are resentful. Is the news to be believed?: a woman is too easily persuaded.

The herald announces Agamemnon's return. The horrors of the army's life at Troy. Clytemnestra declares her joy and faitàhfuàlness. The herald reports the storm and the fortune of Menelaus.

Helen was named for the destruction she brings. The lion cub turns on those who rear it. But destruction results not from the envy of the gods but from the impious deeds of oneself or one's ancestors.

Agamemnon enters in a cart with Cassandra. Clytemnestra welcomes him with cold obsequiousness. Despite his miàs- givings, her flattery persuades him to tread the tapestries.

Forboding fills the chorus.

Clytemnestra orders Cassandra into the house, but Cassandra does not respond.

Cassandra is possessed by visions of the murder of Agamemnon and herself.

The Chorus tries to comfort Cassandra, but becomes increasingly alarmed as they begin to understand her message. She bitterly throws down her mantic trappings and goes into the house.

No man could be higher in prosperity than Agamemnon.

Fifth episode, 1343-1406. (Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, Chorus)

Agamemnon's cries of distress. The Chorus tries to decide on a course of action.

Clytemnestra appears over the corpse, and the Chorus threatens her with exile. She recounts her grievances, and the Chorus grows more doubtful. Ephymnion: 1455-1461; 1537-1550.

Exodos, 1577-1673 (Aegisthus, Clytemnestra, Chorus)

Aegisthus claims credit for the murder plot. The Chorus react with hostility and violence is averted only by the intervention of Clytemnestra.

Agamemnon. The use of the third actor is limited to the presence of the silent Cassandra on stage during the third episode. Dialogue between two actors is limited.

The hypothesis says that the play was exhibited in 458 as one of a tetralogy (Agamemnon, Choephoroi, Eumenides, the satyr play Proteus) and that Aeschylus was victorious. The satyr play seems to have been about Menelaus and Helen in Egypt: cf. €Odyssey  4.351ff.

Genealogies:

               Zeus = Leda = Tyndareus
                    |      |
                  Helen  Clytemnestra
 
 

                        Tantalus
                           |
                        Pelops
                           |
                   _________________
                  |                 |
                Atreus           Thyestes
           ________|_______         |
          |                |        |
       Agamemnon       Menelaus  Aegisthus
          |
       Orestes