Thebes Flashcards
What mythological figure founded Thebes?
Cadmus
What was the 5 steps in the story of Thebes’ foundation
1/ Departed Phoenicia to search for his lost sister Europa
2/ Delphic oracle told him to found Thebes
3/ Then married Harmonia
4/ Killed dragon, put teeth in the ground and a military force emerged
5/ Was given a stone to throw at the group of men, killed all but 5 to form aristocratic class
What was the main theme of Theban myth?
Impacts of siege and civil war
Tell us the story of Oedipus real quick
Oedipus the son of Laius (king) is adopted. Once grown up, he heads to Thebes, killing Laius in road rage. There is a plague over Thebes once he arrives. To enter Thebes, solves a Sphinx’s riddle or kills the Sphinx. The plague disappears, Oedipus is awarded the queen. Oedipus then finds out who he is, blinds and kills himself.
Name 2 mythological figures or gods originating from Thebes
1/ Heracles (according to Hesiod and Homer)
2/ Dionysus
- Grandson of Cadmus
Who wrote about Thebes? What ethnicity were they?
1/ Sophocles (Athenian)
2/ Aeschylus (Athenian)
3/ Pindar (Theban)
How would you describe Athenian- Theban relations? Chronologically only.
Chronology:
- Allied before the Persian War
- Thebes allied with the Persians so were hated as a result
Why were so many myths made up about Thebes? 2 reasons.
1/ Athenians dramatists would often ‘export’ bad political political situations to different locations
2/ Mysterious society
- You fear what you don’t know, so they showed them in a bad light
When exactly did the Thebans betray the Peloponnesians?
They left the battle of Thermopylae and allied with the Persians
What were the key battles in Theban victory over Sparta? What were the significance of each? Who was the key figure in the 2nd battle?
Battle of Tegyra - First Spartan defeat by Thebes THEN Battle of Leuctra - Gave Thebes a decisive victory - Established Thebes as most powerful city-state - Lead by Epaminondas
Who was Pindar? Was he prominent in the times?
- Lyricist
- Almost as prominent as Homer
- Created much of Theban myth
Thebes vs Macedon: prelude and storyline
- 360s: Took Philip of Macedon as hostage as a way of ensuring relations
- Philip II’s reforms
- 340s: Philip grows in power
- > Thebes had previously been allied
- 338: Battle of Chaeronea
- > Athenians and Thebans defeated by Macedon
- Philip II assassinated, Thebans rise up
- > Alexander the Great elected
- > 335BC Alexander destroys all Thebes except Pindar’s house
