Hermione (mythology)

For other uses of the name, see Hermione.

In Greek mythology, Hermione was the only offspring of Menelaus and Helen. While her parents were away fighting (and being seduced, in Helen's case), Hermione was being raised by her aunt, Clytemnestra. Prior to the Trojan War, she was betrothed by Menelaus to Orestes, her cousin through Menelaus' brother, Agamemnon. However, on the battlefield during the Trojan War, her father also promised her to Neoptolemus, son of Achilles. There is an historical dispute over whether or not such a discrepancy actually occurred, however. Some authors, such as Euripides,^[1] describe the dual promise, while others, such as Ovid,^[2] do not mention it at all. Regardless, at the end of the Trojan War, Neoptolemus claimed Hermione as his and took her back to Epirus, his homeland. Shortly after settling into the domestic life, however, conflict arose between Hermione and Andromache, the concubine he had obtained as a prize after the sack of Troy. Hermione blamed Andromache for her inability to become pregnant, claiming that the concubine was casting spells on her to keep her barren. She sought revenge by having her father murder Andromache while Neoptolemus was away. However, Menelaus failed, and Hermione felt compelled to flee out of fear of Neoptolemus's revenge when he found out about the murder attempt. While Neoptolemus was still gone, Orestes came and took Hermione away from Epirus. Orestes' motivation differs depending upon whether or not you believe in Menelaus' broken promise, but regardless Hermione became Orestes' wife. Orestes would subsequently raise an army and defeat Neoptolemus at Delphi. Hermione gave birth to Orestes' heir, Tisamenus.

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