commons.wikimedia.org. Aeschylus' Seven Against Thebes (Hepta epi Thēbas; Latinized as Septem contra Thebas) was originally performed at the City Dionysia of 467 B.C., as the final tragedy in a trilogy about the family of Oedipus (aka the House of Labdacus). He left Thebes in anger when Eteocles refused to relinquish the throne. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. In Statius' Thebaid, why is Polynices sometimes referred to as "the exile"? What does Ismene's plan to do about Creon's decisions not to bury Polynices… The war was set after the reign of Oedipus in Thebes, and a generation before the Trojan War.. In this regard, why is Antigone right for burying her brother? Eteocles definition, a son of Oedipus and the brother of Polynices, by whom he was slain. In this urn we see the power struggle between two brothers called Eteocles and Polynices, who on their father's death inherited the kingdom with the only condition that they should reign alternating every year. The action of “Antigone” follows on from the Theban civil war, in which the two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, died fighting each other for the throne of Thebes after Eteocles had refused to give up the crown to his brother as their father Oedipus had prescribed. But Eteocles refuses to give up the throne when his year is up and even exiles Polyneices from their hometown. Uncategorized // December 11, 2020 // Comments // While one is rulling, the other will go elsewhere. Now Eteocles hurls his long-shadowing spear, and the lordly son of Agenor, seeing it approaching, avoided black Death, and the bronze spear flew over him. (BookRags, Antigone) Oedipus' sons, Eteocles and Polyneices, were both too prideful because they both wanted the power that came from taking over the throne at Thebes. Are you a teacher? The tales were popular in the time of classical Greeks period. A. When Polynices stands momentarily victorious over Eteocles, he wants nothing more than for the royal insignia to be brought to him in order to taunt his … She did this by trying to make Ismene feel guilty if she did not; stating it was Ismene's brother too. Polyneices takes his legitimate claims to Argos, where he marries into the royal house and succeeds in raising an army of disgruntled Thebans and supportive Argives. B. Why did eteocles fight Polynices? His father had made arrangements for his body before his own death. Eteocles and Polynices want to be kings. Their successor, Creon, decides that King Eteocles will be buried, but Polyneices, because he was leading a foreign army, will be left on the field of battle. Eteocles and Polynieces are Oedipus' only sons, the last surviving male members of the cursed family (excluding Creon, not related to Oedipus by blood). Start your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the summaries, Q&A, and analyses you need to get better grades now. The brothers Eteocles and Polynices, sons of Oedipus, killing each other - From " Mythologie de la jeunesse " by Pierre Blanchard. Why do Eteocles and Polynices fight? 14 Feeney has argued that when Polynices nearly yields to the exhortations of Pietas and Fides not to fight, he reveals an essential superiority to Eteocles, who shows no such susceptibility. Just before the brothers begin their final duel, the narrator describes the crime that Polynices is about to commit as more just (cui fortior ira nefasque / iustius, 11.541-42). Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The brothers Eteocles and Polynices, sons of Oedipus, killing each other - From " Mythologie de la jeunesse " by Pierre Blanchard. Why did eteocles fight Polynices? He died defending Thebes against enemies. Eteocles, as the hero on the side of right and law, is given a respectful burial. Why did Creon side with Eteocles and reject burial for Polynices? As Eteocles’ turn came first, Polyneices withdrew to Argos, where he married Argeia, daughter of… However, Polynieces wants to rule as well. . But Polynieces is labeled a traitor for raising armies against his city. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images These two characters were the sons of Oedipus. Why did eteocles fight Polynices? this is the battle between the two brothers Polyneices and Eteocles In Thebes, Eteocles and Polynices have been fighting over the throne. Why Did Antigone Kill Herself? Antigone, his sister, buries him anyway. "(Act I: Scene I: Line 57) This threat brings Antigone farther apart from the only living family member that she has left. (BookRags, Antigone) Oedipus' sons, Eteocles and Polyneices, were both too prideful because they both wanted the power that came from taking over the throne at Thebes. Eteocles finishes his speech with an etymology; he says that Oedipus, his and Polynices’ father, was right when he christened Polynices the way he did: Polyneikes in Greek means “one whose quarrels are many;” in other words, the name designates a quarreler, one who produces many disagreements and misunderstandings. Asked by riley w #353171 on 1/14/2014 10:40 AM He left Thebes in anger when Eteocles refused to relinquish the throne. When Polynices stands momentarily victorious over Eteocles, he wants nothing more than for the royal insignia to be brought to him in order to taunt his … Antigone Summary. D. His treachery against the city was pardoned. Because of a curse put on them by their father Oedipus, the two sons did not share the rule peacefully and died … Antigone Summary: Antigone begins with The two sons of Oedipus, Eteocles and Polyneices, who are fighting for the kingship of Thebes.Both men die in the battle. Tawagalawas is thought to be the Hittite rendition of the name. As a result, it led to both of their self-destructions, as they killed each other in a battle for power. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Political and moral views are framed in terms of a fight between patriot and traitor, ... Eteocles fought him with the city’s army. Is Creon justified in his denial of burial to Polyneices and condemning Antigone to death for violating his decree? That Eteocles refuses to honor Polyneices' legitimate claim to the Theban throne, Why do Eteocles and Polyneices fight in 'Antigone'. Specifically, Eteocles and Polyneices inherit the Theban throne from their disgraced parents, King Oedipus and Queen Jocasta. “ Nor did I think your edict had such that you a mere mortal could override the gods the great unwritten unshakable traditions”(Antigone 82). As the daughter of Oedipus and his mother Jocasta, Antigone is a product of the cursed line of Thebes. When his father, Oedipus, was discovered to have killed his father and married his mother, he was expelled from Thebes, leaving his sons Eteocles and Polynices to rule. In Oedipus at Colonus, Polynices represents the son who wishes to reconcile with his father for self-serving reasons.Wily and somewhat shameless, Polynices dares to compare himself with his father, Oedipus, as a fellow outcast — this, despite the fact that Polynices is … They will each rule for a year. In his examination of the correspondences between Polynices' fight with Tydeus in Book 1 and his duel with Eteocles in Book 11, Bonds 1985, 227 observes that Polynices acts with an intensity of emotion in these two episodes that he lacks elsewhere in the poem. Aeschylus won 1st prize for his tetralogy (the trilogy and a satyr play). sympathize with the outcast; and this is where his own preference seems to lie too" (Ahl 1986(Ahl , 2885. The twins Eteocles and Polyneices, who had been cursed by their father, Oedipus, failed to agree on which of them was to succeed to the Theban Much to Antigone's dismay, Eteocles and Polyneices ended up killing each other on the battlefield, and Creon took the throne.