Latinized form of Greek
Κλυταιμνηστρα (Klytaimnestra), from
κλυτος (klytos) "famous, noble" and
μνηστηρ (mnester) "courter, wooer". In Greek legend Clytemnestra was the wife of
Agamemnon and the mother of
Orestes and
Electra. While her husband was away during the Trojan War she took a lover, and upon his return she had him murdered. She was subsequently killed by Orestes.