Greek Mythology
Tauris — Greek Mythology
Tauris is a distant region on the Black Sea coast in Greek mythology, chiefly associated with Iphigenia, Orestes, and the statue of Artemis. It matters as the foreign sanctuary where Iphigenia is taken after the sacrifice at Aulis.
Overview
Tauris is set on the Black Sea coast and is presented as a shoreline region far from mainland Greece. In the stories, the Temple of Artemis where Iphigenia serves stands by the sea, and Orestes and Pylades also reach its coast by ship.
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Mythic Role in Greek Mythology
In the Iphigenia cycle, Tauris is the foreign land where Artemis places her after saving her from sacrifice. At the altar at Aulis, Iphigenia was to be offered to the goddess; in another version, Artemis substituted a deer and carried her to Tauris, where she becomes a priestess in the local temple.
In the Taurian episodes, the region also marks the end of Orestes' journey of purification. Apollo's oracle orders him to go to Tauris and recover the statue of Artemis so that he can escape the pursuit of the Furies. Tauris is therefore not just a distant place name, but the meeting point of Iphigenia's exile, Orestes' cleansing, and the tradition of transporting the cult image.
Geography
The stories place Tauris on the Black Sea coast and emphasize its shoreline, temple, and altar. The land is ruled by King Thoas, and its inhabitants worship Artemis; any foreigner washed ashore by storms or taken captive is brought to the temple for sacrifice. The coast is also the key place where Iphigenia plans her escape, using the pretext of washing the prisoners and the statue in seawater to move Orestes, Pylades, and the image back to the waiting ship.
Related Stories
In Iphigenia at Aulis, this place is mentioned in the tradition that says Iphigenia was carried away to distant Tauris after Artemis saved her from the altar.
In Iphigenia in Tauris, Tauris is the main setting. Iphigenia serves here as a priestess of Artemis, Orestes and Pylades arrive in search of the statue, the siblings recognize each other before the temple, and they finally escape from the Taurian coast back to Greece.