The Cypria: a prequel to Homer's Iliad

 by Mary Harrsch © 2025

Today I came across a beautiful detail drawing by Wilhelm Zahn of Achilles on Skyros that was found in the tablinum of the House of the Dioscuri in Pompeii (VI 9,6). The story, well-known to the Romans, is surprisingly not from Homer's Iliad but a prequel to the Iliad known as the Cypria.

Detail drawing by Willhelm Zahn, 1828, of the fresco drawing of Achilles on Skyros found in the tablinum of the House of the Dioscuri in Pompeii

The actual fresco from the tablinum of the House of the Dioscuri now in the collections of the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli (Inv. No. 9110)

According to ChatGPT:

"The Cypria is attributed to Stasinus of Cyprus, though its authorship is uncertain. Some ancient sources, including Herodotus (2.117) and later scholars, mention Stasinus as the poet, but this could be based on oral tradition rather than concrete evidence.

Alternative Theories on the Authorship

Homeric Tradition – Some believed Homer wrote the Cypria but later discarded it in favor of The Iliad. This theory was likely an attempt to connect all the Epic Cycle poems to Homer.

Multiple Authors – Given that the Cypria was part of the larger Epic Cycle and composed in dactylic hexameter, some scholars think it evolved over time, with different poets contributing.

Commissioned Work – An ancient legend claims the Cypria was commissioned by a Cypriot king (possibly in Amathus or Salamis, Cyprus), linking it to Stasinus.

Lost but Influential

Although the poem is lost, fragments and ancient summaries (like those by Proclus) suggest it was a prequel to The Iliad, detailing events from the Judgment of Paris to the Greeks landing at Troy. Many of its themes and characters—such as Helen’s abduction, Achilles’ early life, and Agamemnon’s sacrifice of Iphigenia—were widely used in Roman frescoes and literature."

I was already aware that the myth of Achilles on Skyros where he disguised himself as a woman to avoid his fate in the Trojan War was not from the Iliad. But, I was not aware that the sacrifice of Iphigenia originated elsewhere as well. I asked ChatGPT to describe its origins:

"In The Iliad, when Agamemnon’s quarrel with Achilles is recounted, there is no reference to Iphigenia or a prior act of sacrifice. Instead, Agamemnon’s offenses are focused on his arrogance and the seizure of Briseis, Achilles' war prize.

Similarly, in The Odyssey, when Agamemnon’s fate is discussed, there is no mention of Iphigenia—only his murder at the hands of Aegisthus and Clytemnestra upon returning home.

Where Does the Sacrifice of Iphigenia Come From?

The earliest known source for Iphigenia’s sacrifice is the lost epic Cypria, which predates or is contemporary with Homer. Later Greek playwrights expanded on this story:

Aeschylus (Agamemnon, 458 BCE) – Describes Iphigenia being sacrificed at Aulis and her father’s internal struggle.

Euripides (Iphigenia in Aulis, c. 406 BCE) – Tells the most famous version, where Iphigenia is initially deceived into coming to Aulis for a marriage to Achilles, only to be sacrificed. Some versions suggest she is replaced by a deer at the last moment by Artemis.

Sophocles (The Gathering at Aulis, fragmentary) – Also dealt with the story.

Why Didn’t Homer Mention It?

There are several possible reasons:

Homeric Focus on Immediate War Events – The Iliad begins in the ninth year of the war, and Homer might have deliberately avoided earlier tragic backstories that weren’t central to his theme of wrath (mēnis).

Avoidance of Negative Portrayal of Agamemnon – Homer already portrays Agamemnon as flawed, but killing his own daughter would have made him even less sympathetic.

Oral Tradition Variations – The sacrifice of Iphigenia may not have been universally accepted in early oral traditions that Homer used.

Roman and Later Reception

By the Roman period, the sacrifice of Iphigenia had become a well-known episode, frequently depicted in art and referenced in literature. Virgil (in the Aeneid) alludes to it, and Roman frescoes in Pompeii often show the moment of Iphigenia’s impending death or miraculous rescue."

I was curious why Clytemnestra felt compelled to murder Agamemnon if her daughter had not been sacrificed. DeepSeek explained:

"Clytemnestra’s Motive in the Odyssey – In the Odyssey, Clytemnestra kills Agamemnon primarily because of his betrayal (bringing Cassandra as a concubine) and her affair with Aegisthus. The sacrifice of Iphigenia is not cited as a motive, suggesting that this element of the myth either wasn’t yet established or wasn’t deemed necessary for the story Homer was telling.

Evolution of the Myth – The Iphigenia myth may have evolved later to deepen Agamemnon’s guilt and Clytemnestra’s justification for revenge. Homer’s version of Clytemnestra is more of an adulterous villain, while later tragedians (especially Aeschylus) make her a more complex figure driven by maternal vengeance.

Conclusion:

Homer either did not know the Iphigenia sacrifice story or chose not to include it. The myth as we know it today was refined by later poets and playwrights, filling in gaps and adding psychological depth to the characters."

I thoroughly enjoyed Professor Elizabeth Vandiver's The Great Courses lecture series "The Iliad of Homer" years ago but don't remember her talking about the Cypria and the well-known stories about Achilles, Paris, Helen, and Agamemnon in it.

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