Seven Against Thebes
The story of the Seven Against Thebes is a classic tale from Greek mythology that centers on the conflict between Oedipus' sons, Eteocles (Ἐτεοκλῆς, Eteoklês) and Polynices (Πολυνείκης, Polyneíkēs), and the subsequent battle for the city of Thebes. This story is a significant part of the Theban Cycle of myths and has been retold in various forms, notably in Aeschylus' tragedy Seven Against Thebes.
The conflict originates from a curse placed upon Oedipus, the former king of Thebes, who unwittingly killed his father and married his mother, Jocasta. The miasma from this sacrilege extended to his offspring, leading to a bitter dispute between his sons, Eteocles and Polynices, over the right to rule. After Oedipus' exile, the brothers agreed to rule Thebes in alternating years; but after the first year, Eteocles refused to relinquish power, prompting Polynices to flee to Argos, where he gathered support from King Adrastus (Ἄδραστος, Ádrastos). Polynices married Adrastus' daughter and secured the king's assistance to launch an expedition to reclaim his father's territory. Polynices and Adrastus assembled a coalition of six chieftains (including themselves), each sworn to attack one of the seven gates of Thebes. The leaders were:
- Adrastus of Argos; king, and ally of Polynices.
- Polynices of Thebes; chief instigator and would-be king.
- Amphiaraus (Ἀμφιάραος, Amphiáraos) of Argos; a reluctant seer who foresaw the doom of the expedition.
- Capaneus (Καπανεύς, Kapaneús); who boasted he would breach the walls of Thebes regardless of the gods' will.
- Hippomedon (Ἱππομέδων, Hippomédōn) of Argos.
- Parthenopaeus (Παρθενοπαῖος, Parthenopaîos) of Arcadia; son of Atalanta.
- Tydeus (Τυδεύς, Tydeús) of Calydon; father of Diomedes.
The defenders of Thebes, led by Eteocles, prepared to meet the attackers at each of the city's gates. In a series of single combats, all the attackers, except for Adrastus, were killed. Notably, Eteocles and Polynices killed each other in a duel, fulfilling the tragic aspect of their father's curse. The battle's outcome left Thebes victorious but at a great cost, with the city mourning its dead. The story did not end with the battle, as it set the stage for the subsequent siege of Thebes by the Epigoni (the offspring); the Second Fruit, sons of the original attackers who eventually succeeded in taking the city.
The tale of the Seven Against Thebes is a potent story of familial curse, fraternal strife, and the futility of war. It explores themes of fate, hubris, and the tragic consequences of inherited guilt, which are recurrent motifs in Greek mythology. This myth has been influential in literature, theater, and art, serving as a poignant reminder of the complexities of human nature and destiny.