Final answer:
The King of Mycenae in Greek mythology was Agamemnon, whose murder by his wife Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus signifies the intricate themes of betrayal and revenge in Greek literature. The Mycenaeans were a warlike society with a predatory outlook towards their neighbors and lesser classes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The King of Mycenae, according to Greek mythology, was Agamemnon. He was a central figure in the epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey, attributed to Homer. Agamemnon was assassinated by his wife, Clytemnestra, and her lover, Aegisthus, upon his return from the Trojan War. This act of murder reveals the dark side of Mycenaean society, underlining the themes of betrayal, revenge, and the consequences of war that permeate Greek literature and mythology. Agamemnon's death also sets the stage for the subsequent vengeance taken by his son, Orestes, which is a pivotal theme in the Oresteia, a trilogy of plays by Aeschylus. The Mycenaeans were known for their warfare practices; nobles engaged in heroic combat while less affluent soldiers played supporting roles. Despite the grandeur of Mycenaean warfare and the luxury enjoyed by the elite, most Mycenaeans were simple farmers. The civilization as a whole, though noted for its beautiful artifacts and compelling myths, was quite predatory towards those outside its own warrior-king elite class.