From Iphigenia to Polyxena - Parallels between the Twin Sacrifices of the Trojan War

Over the millennia, Ancient Greek art and literature has frequently depicted the representations of traditional legends and myths. The story of the infamous Trojan War has often been a central theme - from the factors that brought it to be, to the fall of Troy and the aftermath of war. This paper seeks to examine a set of evidence in relation to the twin sacrifices of Iphigenia, Princess of Mycenae, and Polyxena, Princess of Troy at the beginning and end of the Trojan War, respectively. In order to effectively understand and study how the two instances show similarities, the various retellings and versions of the original myth are highlighted. The victims, Iphigenia and Polyxena had several striking similarities with regards to their social positions, the factors that led to their deaths, as well as the depictions of their final moments. It is said that the two stories can be seen as mirrors of each other, and bookend the overarching myth of the Trojan War.