The curse of Atreus is said to be passed down through generation originating with Tantalus, king of Lydia. Tantalus was a hubris king who wished to test the god’s all-knowing ability. In order to test this ability, Tantalus killed his son Pelops serving him to the gods as dinner. The gods knew of this occurrence and were outraged by this test. They restored Pelops life and sentenced Tantalus to the underworld to be tortured for eternity. After Pelops was resurrected he married and had many children like Thyestes and Atreus. Pelops two sons Thyestes and Atreus strived to be king, they made bets to determined who would be king by stating whoever had the Golden Fleece would be king. Atreus had a golden fleece until his wife stolen from him giving it
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He burned to avenge the struggles and the groans of Helen” (Iliad 550-555)
Menelaus was tested by the gods during the war for his wife, Helen, the same gods which have passed unfortunate events towards Menelaus’ family. It was Atreus whose marital status which was questionable. Pelops did not transmit the curse to his children because he did not share the occurrence of a lost woman. Although Pelops did have to fight his wife’s father, which loved her more than a father should, he never stole something that was not officially taken. The root of the wife stealing habits came from Arteus, not Pelops.
Menelaus’ fate to lose his wife lead to him starting a decade-long way. The Trojan War called forth many epic heroes giving them their aristeia and a great honor. However this was not the case for others,
“The people’s murmur’s heavy with their blame;
What Menelaus has cost them is their curse.
I sense a black night comes. For all these slain
Sum to a fate-debt the all-see gods rehearse;
Who pushes Justice aside from his path of
He burned to avenge the struggles and the groans of Helen” (Iliad 550-555)
Menelaus was tested by the gods during the war for his wife, Helen, the same gods which have passed unfortunate events towards Menelaus’ family. It was Atreus whose marital status which was questionable. Pelops did not transmit the curse to his children because he did not share the occurrence of a lost woman. Although Pelops did have to fight his wife’s father, which loved her more than a father should, he never stole something that was not officially taken. The root of the wife stealing habits came from Arteus, not Pelops.
Menelaus’ fate to lose his wife lead to him starting a decade-long way. The Trojan War called forth many epic heroes giving them their aristeia and a great honor. However this was not the case for others,
“The people’s murmur’s heavy with their blame;
What Menelaus has cost them is their curse.
I sense a black night comes. For all these slain
Sum to a fate-debt the all-see gods rehearse;
Who pushes Justice aside from his path of