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Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is loaded with larger-than-life characters who have impacted global myth, fiction, and even language for centuries. Nolan appropriately ensured that the major players in the story that covers the aftermath of the Trojan War were well-represented in his record-breaking epic fantasy masterpiece. He chose to forgot accuracy to the time period depicted in the poem (how anything can be considered "accurate" in a work of pure fantasy is another conversation) in favor of making the story more accessible, and indeed more cinematic.
One of the earliest points of contention of the loud, perpetually online community of critics was the accuracy of the armor, with the most pointed example being the extravagant appearance of the Greek king Agamemnon. Anyone who has seen the movie understands why Agamemnon was depicted as a dark and intimidating character, as Nolan wanted to emphasize the symbolic elements of the character. An investigation into the original Greek myths paints a clear picture of who Agamemnon was, and what he represents in the scope of The Odyssey.
Agamemnon Was the King of Mycenae and Commander of the Greek Forces at Troy
In the greater mythology and in Homer's epic poems Iliad and Odyssey, Agamemnon (Benny Safdie in Nolan's adaptatio) was the king of an area known as Mycenae, a major stronghold of Greek civilization in the depicted time frame. Agamemnon's influence extended beyond his kingdom, as he commanded the entire Achaean (how Homer collectively refers to the Greeks) army during the Trojan War. He was the brother of Menelaus (Jon Bernthal), the king of Sparta, each of whom married one of a set of twins, Helen and Clytemnestra.
It's important to note that Agamemnon ran afoul of the gods before the Trojan War. While the Greek army and fleet assembled in the port city of Aulis, Agamemnon hunted and killed a deer in a sacred grove, offending the Greek goddess Artemis in the process, even boasting that he was a superior hunter. In response, Artemis sent storms to Aulis, effectively trapping the Greeks there and preventing their attack. Agamemnon learned from a seer that the only way to make amends for so grievous an offense was to sacrifice his own eldest daughter, Iphigenia, which he did after pressure from his commanders.
While mythology tells us that it was a long-standing promise to defend Helen's honor, along with Menelaus' own request for his brother's aid that drove Agamemnon to lead the Greek forces against Troy, it was more significantly a result of his own desire for power and glory. As the most powerful figure in Greek civilization at the time, Agamemnon desired to expand his influence across the Mediterranean, and Paris' "kidnapping" of his brother's wife was exactly the excuse that he needed to start a war he was confident he could win.
Agamemnon's Fate in 'The Odyssey', Explained
Via Odysseus' deception with the Trojan Horse, Agamemnon led the Greek forces in the sacking and destruction of Troy, successfully emerging as the victor of the legendary 10-year conflict. He returned home after a stormy and dangerous voyage which, while difficult, was not anywhere near as arduous as Odysseus' long journey. Upon his return home, Agamemnon was swiftly murdered by either his wife, Clytemnestra, or her lover, Aesgisthus (accounts have differed over the ages). His murder was a result of the long-festering rage of Clytemnestra, who killed her husband as vengeance for the ghastly murder of their own daughter.
Christopher Nolan sticks to the more traditional interpretation of Agamemnon's fate, with Clytemnestra murdering him herself as a clear act of vengeance. Agamemnon later appeared in the Underworld to Odysseus as a "shade", which is also depicted in The Odyssey. Agamemnon's message to the tormented king reflected his own experience, as he warned Odysseus not to trust his own wife upon his return, understanding that she may harbor similar grudges and seek vengeance of her own.
The Symbolism of Agamemnon in Homer's 'Odyssey', Explained
Agamemnon is essentially a long-unfolding cautionary tale in the context of Greek mythology. All members of his family suffer misfortune in their lives as a result of a family curse against the House of Atreus, which includes all the descendants of Agamemnon's great-grandfather, Tantalus who angered Zeus himself decades prior. Agamemnon's murder at his own wife's hands begets even more misfortune, as his son Orestes then kills his mother Clytemnestra to avenge his father.
The vicious cycle of violence represents generational trauma, the psychological and behavioral impact of misdeeds handed down from parents to children. The cycle of violence surrounding Agamemnon's life in particular also points to the dangers of a "blood demands blood" perspective on the world. The violence that Agamemnon unleashes in his life finds him eventually, and the killing doesn't even stop there.
More importantly, Agamemnon demonstrates the dangers of allowing ego and excessive hubris to dictate one's actions. Agamemnon's own arrogance results in the need to kill his own child, and his self-serving desire for power and glory yields calamity for the entire Greek army, even if they do ultimately win the Trojan War. Christopher Nolan captures the ego of Agamemnon specifically in the armor that was criticized in the early promotion of the movie, as its extravagant appearance, especially when compared to his subordinates, shows just how important he believes himself to be.
