Agamemnon

American  

[ag-uh-mem-non, -nuhn] / ˌæg əˈmɛm nɒn, -nən /

noun

1. Classical Mythology. a king of Mycenae, a son of Atreus and brother of Menelaus. He led the Greeks in the Trojan War and was murdered by Clytemnestra, his wife, upon his return from Troy.

2. (italics) a tragedy (458 b.c.) by Aeschylus.

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Agamemnon British  

/ ˌæɡəˈmɛmnɒn /

noun

1. Greek myth a king of Mycenae who led the Greeks at the siege of Troy. On his return home he was murdered by his wife Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus See also Menelaus

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Agamemnon Cultural  

1. In classical mythology, the king who led the Greeks against Troy in the Trojan War (see also Trojan War). To obtain favorable winds for the Greek fleet sailing to Troy, Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia to the goddess Artemis and so came under a curse. After he returned home victorious, he was murdered by his wife, Clytemnestra, and her lover, Aegisthus.

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Etymology

Origin of Agamemnon

< Greek Agamémnon- (stem of Agamémnōn ), < *Agaménmon-, equivalent to aga- great + men- (truncation of Menelaus, meaning king) + -mon- suffix used in shortened names

Example Sentences

One of the most famous ships built at the site was HMS Agamemnon, which took part in the Battle of Trafalgar and was known as Lord Nelson's "favourite".

From BBC • Aug. 12, 2025

This poem tells the story of the Trojan War, in which the Greek kingdoms, led by King Agamemnon of Mycenae, waged war against the city of Troy.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

Point being, once the opera opens with the terrifying three-note slash marking the death of Agamemnon, Elektra’s grief needs to steadily ramp up, even as her grasp on reality breaks down.

From Washington Post • Oct. 30, 2022

Agamemnon insists on her silence to save face and protect his career.

From New York Times • Aug. 25, 2022

Therefore when Chryseis had been returned to her father, Agamemnon sent two of his squires to Achilles’ tent to take his prize of honor away from him, the maiden Briseis.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton