Maew Chapter 18

Question 1

Thebes

Answer 1

Principal city of Boeotia, second most important location for Greek myth after Mycenae

Question 2

Cadmus and Thebes

Answer 2

One of the myths of the founding of Thebes is Cadmus, giving up looking for his sister Europa, follows a cow and founds Thebes where it rests.
Some of his men are killed by a dragon, who he fights and kills

Question 3

Sparti

Answer 3

“sown men”, the soldiers who sprang from the ground after Cadmus sowed half of the teeth of the dragon he slew, at Athena’s request. They are the ancestors of the 5 houses of Thebes

Question 4

Harmonia

Answer 4

Daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, married to Cadmus. Given Necklace and Robe at wedding that end up cursed for later descendants.

Question 5

Antiope

Answer 5

Daughter of Nycteis, a king of Thebes, she is seduced by Zeus and shamed out of Thebes. Mother of Amphion and Zethus

Question 6

Dirce

Answer 6

Wife to Lycus, a ruler of Thebes while Amphion and Zethus were children. Tortured Antiope daily until killed by Antiope and her two sons.

Question 7

Amphion and Zethus

Answer 7

Twin sons of Antiope, ruled Thebes in harmony; basically another founding myth (they build the city walls)

Question 8

Laius

Answer 8

Father of Oedipus, abandons him in the wild due to a prophecy that his son will kill him. Killed by Oedipus. Also brings curse to his family due to rape of Pelops’ son, violating xenia

Question 9

Jocasta

Answer 9

Mother, and later wife, of Oedipus. She is the queen of Thebes, kills herself when she finds out her husband is actually her son.

Question 10

The Sphinx

Answer 10

a daughter of Typhoeus who was terrorizing Thebes, posing a riddle and then eating her victims upon an incorrect answer. Kills herself when Oedipus correctly answers the riddle

Question 11

Sons and Daughters of Oedipus/Jocasta

Answer 11

Sons: Polynices, Eteocles
Daughers: Antigone, Ismene

Question 12

Adrastus

Answer 12

King of Argos, helps Polynices try to win back Thebes in the Seven Against Thebes

Question 13

Amphiaraus

Answer 13

A seer who reluctantly fights alongside Adrastus and Polynices against Thebes. Asks his son Alcmaeon to avenge his death

Question 14

Eriphyle

Answer 14

Sister of Adrastus, married to Amphiaraus on the condition that any time he and Adrastus have a dispute, she gets to settle it. She takes a bribe of Harmonia’s neckalce and sides with Adrastus to fight the war against Thebes

Question 15

Oedipus at Colonus

Answer 15

A play by Sophocles, in which Oedipus curses his sons to die by each others’ hands for disgracing their father, prior to the fight at Thebes

Question 16

Seven Against Thebes

Answer 16

Large Battle fought over Thebes between Eteocles and Polynices, Thebans and Argives. The Thebans win in the end, but Polynices and Eteocles kill one another (play by Aeschylus)

Question 17

Antigone

Answer 17

Play by Sophocles, last of the trilogy about Oedipus, about Oedipus’ daughter seeking to bury her brother, Polynices, despite the edict of Creon, now king of Thebes

Question 18

Creon

Answer 18

King of Thebes following the death of Eteocles in the Seven Against Thebes. Demands none of the Argives be buried, and Antigone goes against him.

Question 19

Conflict in Antigone

Answer 19

Antigone symbolically buries Polynices; Creon sentences her to death, she kills herself just before he relents.

Question 20

Themes in Antigone

Answer 20

Traditional versus progressive; nature versus the polis, male versus female. Which are most important is a matter of debate.

Question 21

Epigoni

Answer 21

“descendants”, sons of the seven who fought against Thebes, who themselves seek revenge by sacking Thebes. Tiresias finally dies here. Alcmeon kills his mother at Amphiaraus’ orders, driven insane by the maisma