Maew Chapter 18 Flashcards
Thebes
Principal city of Boeotia, second most important location for Greek myth after Mycenae
Cadmus and Thebes
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
Sparti
“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
Harmonia
Daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, married to Cadmus. Given Necklace and Robe at wedding that end up cursed for later descendants.
Antiope
Daughter of Nycteis, a king of Thebes, she is seduced by Zeus and shamed out of Thebes. Mother of Amphion and Zethus
Dirce
Wife to Lycus, a ruler of Thebes while Amphion and Zethus were children. Tortured Antiope daily until killed by Antiope and her two sons.
Amphion and Zethus
Twin sons of Antiope, ruled Thebes in harmony; basically another founding myth (they build the city walls)
Laius
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
Jocasta
Mother, and later wife, of Oedipus. She is the queen of Thebes, kills herself when she finds out her husband is actually her son.
The Sphinx
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
Sons and Daughters of Oedipus/Jocasta
Sons: Polynices, Eteocles
Daughers: Antigone, Ismene
Adrastus
King of Argos, helps Polynices try to win back Thebes in the Seven Against Thebes
Amphiaraus
A seer who reluctantly fights alongside Adrastus and Polynices against Thebes. Asks his son Alcmaeon to avenge his death
Eriphyle
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
Oedipus at Colonus
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
Seven Against Thebes
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)
Antigone
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
Creon
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.
Conflict in Antigone
Antigone symbolically buries Polynices; Creon sentences her to death, she kills herself just before he relents.
Themes in Antigone
Traditional versus progressive; nature versus the polis, male versus female. Which are most important is a matter of debate.
Epigoni
“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
