in Grecian story, daughter of Priam and Hecuba, was beloved of Apollo, who promised to bestow on her the spirit of prophecy if she would comply with his desires. Cassandra accepted the proposal; but no sooner had she obtained that gift than she laughed at the tempter, and refused to fulfil her promise. Apollo revenged himself by ordaining that her predictions should be discredited; and hence she prophesied in vain the ruin of Troy. On the capture of that city she was ravished by Ajax the son of Oireus, in the temple of Minerva. In the distribution of the booty, Cassandra fell to the lot of Agamemnon, who loved her deeply; but in vain did she predict that he would be assassinated in his own country. Both perished through the intrigues of Clytemnestra, who was herself afterwards slain by Orestes, to avenge his father's death.