ATREUS, in Ancient History, the son of Pelops and Hippodameia, grandson to Tantalus, and the father of Agamemnon and Menelaus, is supposed to have been king of Mycene and Argos about 1228 years before the Christian era. He drove his brother Thyestes from court for having criminal intercourse with Ærope his wife; but, understanding that two children were the fruit of this connection, he recalled his brother, and served up their flesh to him at a banquet; at which enormity the sun, it is said, withdrew his light.—Hygin. Fab.; Æschyl. Agamemnon; Soph. Agax.