A'TREUS, in Greek legend, son of Pelops and Hippodamia, grandson of Thyestes and Nicippe, whose fortunes and misfortunes, with those of his family, were the favorite themes of Grecian writers and artists. A. married Cleola, by whom he was the father of Pleisthenes; his next wife was Aerope, widow of his son Pleisthenes, and by her he had Agamemnon and .Menelaus; his last wife was Pelopia, daughter of his brother Thyestes. The main story of A. begins in blood, he and Thyestes being induced by their mother to kill their step-brother Chrysippus, the son of Pelops and the nymph Axioche. After the murder, the perpetrators fled to Myceme, where the king, Sthenelus, was their brother-in-law. The son and successor of Sthenelus lost his life in war with the Heracleids, and Atreus succeeded him as king of Mycenre. Calamity and crime followed rapidly. Thyestes secluded A.'s wife .A.rope, and stole the golden fleeced ram which was the gift of Hermes. A. expelled Thyestes, who sent A.'s own son to kill him, but the father slew the son without recognizing him. Then A. prepared a great revenge. Professing to be reconciled to Thyestes, he invited him to Myeente, killed Tantalus and I'lastenes (the two sons of Thyestes), and served them for a banquet to their father. lu the midst of time meal, A. had the skeletons of the dish brought in to edify Thyestes, who, struck with horror, cursed the house of A. and fled, while the sun turned its face from the scene. The kingdom of A. was next stricken with famine, which the oracle said could be remedied only by recalling Thyestes. A. went in search
of him, and, at the court of king Thesprotus, married a third wife, Pelopia, who was the daughter of his brother Thyestes, though A. supposed her to be the daughter of Thesprotus. When married, Thyestes, was with child by her own father, and this child she exposed to die, but he was brought up by shepherds, and known as 2Egisthus, and when A. heard of him he brought him up as his own son. 1Eschylus says that A. sent Agamemnon and Menelaus iu search of Thyestes, whom they brought back to Myceme; that A. imprisoned him and sent Agisthus to kill him; that 2Egisthus, having been recognized by his real father, returned with the story that he had done the deed, and immediately slew A., who was offering sacrifice on the sea-shore.—It is believed that the tomb and the treasury of Atreus in Mycenm have been discovered by Dr. Schliemann, the explorer of the ruined city.
A'TRI (anc.Hadria Picena), a t. of south Italy, in the province of Teramo, and 14 nt. s.e. from Teramo, on a steep hill, 6 m. from the Adriatic. It is of very great antiquity,- and some of its coins bear a legend in Etruscan characters. Numerous remains of public buildings, baths, and walls attest its ancient importance. In a hill near the town are some remarkable subterranean chambers, supposed to be excavations of a very remote age. They are formed with the greatest regularity, hut their purpose is unknown. A. is a bishop's see. It has an aspect of stagnation and decay. Pop. 3632.