Aerope

In Greek mythology, Aerope (Ἀερόπη, Αερόπη) was the wife of King Atreus of Mycenae. She had an affair with his brother, Thyestes.

Aerope was the daughter of Catreus.

Atreus promised Artemis that he would sacrifice his best lamb to her. Upon finding a golden lamb, however, he gave it to Aerope to hide. She, in turn, gave the lamb to Thyestes, who agreed with Atreus that the person who possessed the golden lamb should become king of Mycenae. Atreus agreed and Thyestes seized the throne.

Atreus eventually retook the throne through similar treachery (see Atreus) and the brothers' rivalry, part of the curse of Tantalus, continued for two more generations (see Agamemnon and Orestes).

Sources

Apollod. 3.1.4, 3.2.1

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Another Aerope was the daughter of Cepheus, she was with Ares the mother of Aeropus

Sources

Pausanias 8.44.7.

On the right of the so-called Dyke lies the Manthuric plain. The plain is on the borders of Tegea, stretching just about fifty stades to that city. On the right of the road is a small mountain called Mount Cresius, on which stands the sanctuary of Aphneius. For Ares, the Tegeans say, mated with Aerope, daughter of Cepheus, the son of Aleus.

She died in giving birth to a child, who clung to his mother even when she was dead, and sucked great abundance of milk from her breasts. Now this took place by the will of Ares, and because of it they name the god Aphneius (Abundant); but the name given to the hill was, it is said, Aeropus. There is on the way to Tegea a fountain called Leuconian. They say that Apheidas was the father of Leucone, and not far from Tegea is her tomb.

Greek Mythology

See also : Greek Mythology. Paintings, Drawings