Editing Aletes of Mycenae (section)

== Mythology ==
When Aletes and his siblings were young, their parents were killed by [[Orestes (mythology)|Orestes]], who was their half-brother and the son of Clytemnestra and [[Agamemnon]] (this was in revenge for Clytemnestra killing Agamemnon, which she did in revenge for Agamemnon killing their daughter [[Iphigenia]]). The infant Helen was also killed or at least died young.

In most accounts, Orestes leaves Mycenae after he kills his mother and is pursued by the [[Furies]]. He wanders, is purified, and eventually marries his cousin [[Hermione (mythology)|Hermione]], who lives in Sparta (he is also said to have traveled to [[Crimea]] to visit Iphigenia, who in some stories miraculously survived her father's attempt to sacrifice her to [[Artemis]]).

Meanwhile, Aletes has come of age, and he assumes the throne at Mycenae. Orestes returns with troops, kills Aletes, and takes the throne. Orestes is said to have a son, [[Penthilus]], with his half-sister Erigone, though stories differ as to whether this was by rape or if they married. Some say Erigone hanged herself.