AEGISTHUS  , in

Greek legend, was the son of Thyestes by his own daughter Pelopia . Having been exposed by his mother to conceal her shame, he was found by shepherds and suckled by a goat—whence his name . His uncle Atreus, who had married Pelopia, took him to Mycenae, and brought him up as his own son . When he grew up Aegisthus slew Atreus, and ruled jointly with his father over Mycenae, until they were deposed by Agamemnon on his return from exile . After the departure of Agamemnon to the Trojan war, Aegisthus seduced his wife Clytaemnestra (more correctly Clytaemestra) and with her assistance slew him on his return . Eight years later his murder was avenged by his son Orestes . Homer, Od. iii . 263, iv . 517; Hyginus, Fab . 87 .