Polynices

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about a mythological character. For the genus of sea snails, see Polinices.
Antigone on the side of Polynices, Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant, 1868

In

Thebes, leaving Eteocles and Polynices to rule. Because of a curse put on them by their father, the two sons did not share the rule peacefully. During a battle for control over Thebes, the brothers killed each other.[3]

Mythology

Oedipus's curse

In the Thebaid, the brothers were cursed by their father for their disrespect towards him on two occasions. The first of these occurred when they served him using the silver table of Cadmus and a golden cup, which he had forbidden.[4] The brothers then sent him the haunch of a sacrificed animal, rather than the shoulder, which he deserved. Enraged, Oedipus prayed to Zeus that the brothers would die by each other's hand.[5] However, in Sophocles' Oedipus at Colonus, Oedipus desired to stay in Thebes but was expelled by Creon. His sons argued over the throne, but Eteocles gained the support of the Thebans and expelled Polynices, who went to Oedipus to ask for his blessing to retake the city, but instead was cursed to die by his brother's hand.[6] His son was Thersander.

Quarrel over the rule of Thebes

There are several accounts of how Eteocles and Polynices shared the rule after Oedipus' departure from the city. In

Diodorus state that the brothers agree to divide the kingship between them, switching each year. Eteocles, however, was allotted the first year, and refused to surrender the crown.[7]

Eteocles then has his brother exiled, though Polynices soon finds refuge in the city of

Seven Against Thebes”. The expedition soon proved to be complete disaster, as all of the Argive champions (save for Adrastus) were slain in the ensuing battle; Polynices and Eteocles face off against one another in single combat and kill each other.[citation needed
]

Eteocles and Polynices, copy of mural in François Tomb from Vulci made in 4th century BC

Ten years after Polynices' death, the sons of the seven fallen champions gathered to launch a second assault against the city of Thebes to avenge the deaths of their fathers; they are the known as the Epigoni. Unlike their fathers before them, these Epigoni are successful in their attempt to take Thebes, after which they install Thersander, Polynices' son by Argia, as the city's new ruler.

Burial

In

sepulchre; meanwhile the gods, through the blind prophet Tiresias, expressed their disapproval of Creon's decision, which convinced him to rescind his order. He then went to bury Polynices himself, and release Antigone. However, she had already hanged herself rather than be buried alive. When Creon arrived at the tomb where she was to be interred, his son Haemon made as if to attack him and then killed himself. When Creon's wife, Eurydice
, was informed of their deaths, she took her own life.

In popular culture

Genealogy


See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Polynices.
  1. ISBN 0415186366
    .
  2. ^ Sophocles. Oedipus at Colonus.
  3. ^ "The Oedipus Plays". SparkNotes.com. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  4. ^ Gantz, Timothy. Early Greek Myth. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1993, p. 502
  5. ^ Gantz, Timothy. Early Greek Myth. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1993, p. 503
  6. ^ Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus, lines 1350-1395
  7. ^ Apollodorus, 3.6.1
  8. ^ "Hojang Taret - Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards". Hojang Taret - Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  9. ^ "WHAT TO EXPECT FROM 10 META PLAYS? - Art Culture Festival". 2018-03-21. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  10. ^ "Hojang Taret- A Greek Tragedy brought to Life - Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards". Hojang Taret- A Greek Tragedy brought to Life - Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
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