This tragedy is based on the mythological story of King Pentheus of Thebes and his mother Agave, and their punishment by the god Dionysus (who is Pentheus' cousin) for refusing to worship him.

Iphigenie in Aulis übersetzt aus dem Euripides von Friedrich von Schiller.

Die Gesinnungen in diesem Stücke sind groß und edel, die Handlung wichtig und erhaben, die Mittel dazu glücklich gewählt und geordnet. (aus den Anmerkungen von Schiller)

Euripides' play follows the fates of the women of Troy after their city has been sacked, their husbands killed, and as their remaining families are about to be taken away as slaves. However, it begins first with the gods Athena and Poseidon discussing ways to punish the Greek armies because they condoned Ajax the Lesser for dragging Cassandra away from Athena's temple. What follows shows how much the Trojan women have suffered as their grief is compounded when the Greeks dole out additional deaths and divide their shares of women.