Iphigenia

Iphigenia

Year: 1977

Runtime: 127 mins

Language: Greek

Director: Mihalis Kakogiannis

ActionDrama

As the Greek fleet prepares to sail for the Trojan War, the winds remain stubbornly still. King Agamemnon, hoping to secure better provisions, accidentally kills a deer sacred to the gods. Angered, the deity demands a tribute, forcing Agamemnon to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia before the ships can depart.

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Timeline & Setting – Iphigenia (1977)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Iphigenia (1977). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late Bronze Age

The events unfold in a mythic pre-Trojan War era, when city-states rally around a common cause and the gods actively shape human destinies. Oracles, rituals, and royal decrees drive decisions that blur the line between duty and morality. The atmosphere is charged with anticipation of battle and the heavy cost of victory.

Location

Aulis, Argos, Greece

Set in the ancient Greek harbor town of Aulis near Argos, where the Greek fleet awaits favorable winds to sail for Troy. The plot centers on Artemis's temple and its sacred deer, whose defilement sparks a grim sacrifice. The tense, ceremonial space of military command and sacred rite frames the drama of loyalty, power, and fate.

🗺️ Ancient Greece ⚓ Harbor town 🏛️ Temple politics

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:23

Main Characters – Iphigenia (1977)

Meet the key characters of Iphigenia (1977), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Agamemnon (Kostas Kazakos)

A warlord torn between the honor of leading Greece to Troy and the personal cost of sacrificing his daughter. He manipulates his brother and the army with persuasive rhetoric, yet bears the weight of an impossible decision. His authority masks deep uncertainty and fear of losing everything to victory.

🏛️ Leadership ⚔️ War 🎭 Duty vs Morality

Klytaimnistra (Irene Papas)

Queen and mother who embodies loyalty to her family while confronting the moral dimensions of deception. She travels to Aulis in hope of a safe, hopeful future for her daughter and husband, then faces the grim reality of political manipulation. Her resolve is tested by love, duty, and the thin line between protection and complicity.

👩‍👧 Family & Loyalty ⚖️ Morality 🎭 Tragedy

Ifigeneia (Tatiana Papamoschou)

The daughter whose fate drives the plot, caught between filial love and a predetermined ritual. She endures manipulation, fear, and a quiet courage as the truth about her fate unfolds. Her presence personifies the human cost of war and the fragility of innocence.

👧 Innocence vs Destiny 🕯️ Sacrifice 💔 Tragedy

Odysseus (Christos Tsagas)

The cunning strategist who reveals the truth to the army, orchestrating a delicate balance of deception and revelation. He navigates the politics of honor and survival, manipulating events to secure a broader victory. His scheming exposes the moral ambiguity at the heart of war.

🧠 Strategy 🗣️ Political Intrigue 🧭 Deception

Kalhas (Dimitris Aronis)

The seer and official interpreter of Artemis's will, whose oracle sets the price of wind and war. He embodies religious authority and fatalism, presenting the gods' commands as unavoidable. His role catalyzes the central crisis through a ritual-driven logic.

🔮 Oracle 🗣️ Religion & Power ⚖️ Fate

Menelaos (Kostas Karras)

The king who questions his brother's choices and challenges the idea that victory justifies any means. He anchors the moral debate within the Greek leadership and demands accountability. His stance reveals the fractures within the coalition.

👑 Royalty ⚔️ War & Honor 🗣️ Debate

Achilleas (Panos Mihalopoulos)

The famed Myrmidon general whose presence elevates the conflict between personal glory and strategic necessity. He is bound to honor and reputation, yet the deception entwines his fate with the broader war. His response to the revelation deepens the tragedy.

🗡️ Warrior 💔 Honor ⚖️ Duty vs Emotion

Messenger (Giorgos Oikonomou)

A conduit of information whose news can alter loyalties and reveal the truth to the army. His role underscores the fragile nature of certainty amid imminent danger. He moves between camps, carrying messages that shape the course of events.

📜 Messenger 🗣️ Communication 🕊️ Duty

Myrmidon (Dimitris Kontogiannis)

A commander within Agamemnon's host, representing the military muscle behind the political maneuvers. His stance reflects the pressure of a legion to follow orders in the face of personal risk. The troops' voice is felt through him as the wind of fate approaches.

⚔️ Military Leadership 🏛️ War Strategy 💥 Tension

Orestis (Georges Vourvahakis)

A figure among the Greek camp, emblematic of the young generation facing the consequences of the old guard's choices. His presence signals loyalty and the continuing cycle of conflict. He mirrors the soldiers' perspective in the unfolding tragedy.

🗡️ Warrior 🧭 Loyalty 🕊️ Youth Voice

Servant (Angelos Yannoulis)

A loyal servant delivering messages and bearing witness to the schemes at Aulis. His perspective highlights the human cost of political scheming and the fragility of trust within a besieged camp.

🧩 Supporting Role 🗺️ Information 🕯️ Fate

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:23

Major Themes – Iphigenia (1977)

Explore the central themes of Iphigenia (1977), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⏳ Fate vs Free Will

The oracle's demand and the plague of delay force leaders to weigh personal sacrifice against collective ambition. Characters debate whether destiny is inevitable or bendable through choice. The film frames leadership as a precarious balance between necessary act and moral cost.

🕯️ Sacrifice

Iphigenia's fate lies at the heart of the story, revealing how ritual and political pressure intersect with family love. The act is shown as both a necessary ritual to secure winds and a deeply painful moral wound. The narrative probes whether ends justify the means when a child pays the price for war.

⚖️ Duty vs Morality

Agamemnon's pursuit of victory tests his obligations to Greece against personal betrayal and the welfare of his kin. Soldiers and rulers confront the ethical costs of leadership. The tension between public duty and private conscience underpins the climactic choices.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:23

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