Why was Iphegenia killed? What effects did her death have?

Iphigenia, a character from Greek mythology, was the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. According to the myth, she was to be sacrificed by her father to appease the goddess Artemis, who had become angered by Agamemnon for killing a sacred deer and boasting about his hunting skills. The sacrifice was necessary to ensure favorable winds for the Greek fleet's journey to Troy during the Trojan War. In different versions of the myth, Iphigenia’s death has various interpretations. In some accounts, she is indeed killed at Aulis, while in others, she is saved by Artemis, who replaces her with a deer at the last moment, taking her to serve as a priestess in Tauris, far from her family. The effects of Iphigenia's death (or her supposed sacrifice) are profound. Agamemnon's act sets off a chain of tragic events, including: 1. **Family Tragedy:** Clytemnestra becomes filled with rage and grief over the loss of her daughter, ultimately leading to her revenge against Agamemnon upon his return from Troy. 2. **Curse on the House of Atreus:** The act of sacrificing Iphigenia is part of a broader cycle of vengeance and retribution within the House of Atreus, leading to further tragedies and killings within the family. 3. **Themes of Sacrifice:** Iphigenia's story highlights themes of duty, sacrifice, and the moral dilemmas faced by individuals in the context of war and leadership. 4. **Symbolism of Innocence:** Iphigenia often symbolizes innocence sacrificed for a greater cause, raising questions about the justification of such sacrifices in the name of honor or duty. Her story has been interpreted and reinterpreted in various literary and artistic works, serving as a poignant example of the consequences of parental decisions and the impact of divine intervention in human affairs.