Myth Library · Sacrifice Rescue And Translation
Iphigenia at Aulis and in the Taurian Land
1 source witness · 1 source-scoped variant · reviewed 2026-08-30
The windbound Achaean fleet is told to sacrifice Iphigenia to Artemis, but the goddess removes the girl at the altar, leaves a deer in her place, and establishes her as a priestess in the Taurian land.
Canonical narrative
The Achaean fleet gathers at Aulis and cannot move. Pseudo-Apollodorus gives the stillness a divine cause. Artemis is angry with Agamemnon because he boasted after killing a deer that even she could not have shot better, and because Atreus had failed to sacrifice a promised golden lamb. Calchas declares that the ships will not sail unless the fairest daughter of Agamemnon is offered to the goddess.
The demand enters the household through deceit. Odysseus and Talthybius bring Iphigenia from Clytemnestra by claiming that the girl will marry Achilles. Agamemnon places his daughter beside the altar and prepares to kill her. At the last moment Artemis carries Iphigenia away, sets a deer in her place, and takes her to the Taurian land as her priestess. Another account, briefly preserved by the same mythographer, says the goddess makes Iphigenia immortal.
The rescue does not erase the terror that precedes it. A father accepts his daughter's death for the fleet, a false marriage draws her from her mother, and the goddess who demands the sacrifice also refuses its final human victim. The story moves Iphigenia from bride-to-be to intended offering to priestess, each transition imposed by powers around her.
Episodes in this myth
Episode 1
The windbound fleet and the sacrifice demand
Calchas says the fleet cannot sail until Iphigenia is offered to Artemis, and a false marriage promise brings her to Aulis.
Episode 2
Artemis removes Iphigenia
As the sacrifice is about to occur, Artemis carries Iphigenia away, substitutes a deer, and makes her a priestess in the Taurian land.
Participants and roles
Artemis
goddess whose anger stills the fleet and who removes Iphigenia from the altar
The same goddess demands the sacrifice and prevents its completion, replacing the girl with a deer.Iphigenia
daughter brought to Aulis under a false marriage promise and carried away before the sacrifice
Her fate changes from intended bride to intended victim to Artemis’ priestess; another account makes her immortal.Agamemnon
commander and father who prepares to sacrifice Iphigenia
The causes of Artemis’ anger include his boast after killing a deer and Atreus’ neglected golden lamb.Calchas
seer who announces the condition for the fleet to sail
His declaration turns the windbound fleet into a demand upon Agamemnon’s household.Odysseus
envoy sent to obtain Iphigenia through the false promise of marriage
He travels with Talthybius, who remains named in the retelling without a separate participant entry.Clytemnestra
mother deceived into sending Iphigenia to Aulis
The false marriage story hides the intended sacrifice from her.Achilles
warrior whose name is used in the false marriage promise
The witness does not make him a participant in planning the deception.Source-scoped variants
Pseudo-Apollodorus’ Aulis rescue and alternatives
Artemis prevents the fleet from sailing, receives Iphigenia at the altar, replaces her with a deer, and carries her to the Taurian land, while another account makes the girl immortal.
What differs: The witness gives two causes for Artemis’ anger and preserves immortality as an alternative to Taurian priesthood.
Greek Roman Imperial · AulisSource witnesses
EXPLICIT PRIMARY · Reviewed
Library
Pseudo-Apollodorus; edited and translated by James G. Frazer · 1921
Entry Epitome · Section 3.21-22
Controls the two causes of anger, false marriage, intended sacrifice, deer substitution, Taurian removal, priesthood, and immortality alternative.
Open reviewed source