leading up to war; particularly, Iphigeneia's sacrifice (see below). An open wound, the memory of this tragic murder seems to be gnawing at everyone's conscience and ruining the celebration. For the sacrifice has tainted the house, the ill-fated House of Atreus (a favorite subject of ancient Greek tragedians), and requires rectification.
             Notably, we see in this section the first mention of the queen as a lady with "male strength of heart." This has to do with her role as interim ruler of Argus in the long absence of her husband. Apparently, she has filled his position very well. But there is also some discussion by the Chorus as to whether it is not "unnatural" for a woman to act in the traditional capacity of a man.
             With the Chorus, we should be aware that, as a convention of Greek tragedy, they (or frequently, "he") function as a kind of commentator on the action-offering the reasonable, often sagacious perspectives of experienced citizens of the state. At other times the Chorus appears as the actual embodiment of the state
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