AGAMENON, AGAMENOUN. Agamemnon, son of Atreus, was the high king of Mycenae and the brother of Menelaus. His high-handed taking of Briseis away from Achilles caused the latter to sulk in his tent, while the Trojans wreaked havoc on the Greeks. After Hector killed Patroclus, Achilles emerged from his tent to avenge Patroclus's death and killed Hector. This is the story of Homer's Iliad.

Troilus says that he would rather be "caitif to cruel kyng Agamenoun" than lie to Criseyde, Tr III.382. Agamenon is mentioned four times in Bo IV, Metr 7.1-17, two of which are Chaucer's glosses. Chaucer identifies Agamenon as Menelaus's brother and explains that Agamenon allowed his daughter to be sacrificed at Aulis so that the gods would send a wind to blow the fleet to Troy. Boethius's Latin reads ultor Attrides, which Chaucer translates "the wrekere Attrides (that is to seyn, Agamenon)." [Attrides: Clitermystra]

Agamenon appears in Bo IV, Metr 7.1, 6, 8, 14. Agamenoun, a variant of OF Agamenon, occurs in final rhyming position, Tr III.382.