Devoir de Philosophie

Seven Against Thebes

Publié le 22/02/2012

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Greek The name given to the conflict between the rulers of the kingdom of Thebes and the rebels who challenged the king for the throne. It was the subject of a tragedy by Aeschylus. At the death of their father, Oedipus, Eteocles and Polynices (who were probably twins), had made a pact to rule the kingdom of Thebes jointly, each one taking over the kingdom for a year at a time. However, Eteocles refused to give up his kingship at the end of his year. Polynices appealed to King Adrastus of Argos for military help and the war began. The seven were the champions Adrastus brought together to help Polynices gain the throne. The city of Thebes had seven gates. Eteocles set a champion to guard each one. Adrastus delegated a champion to capture each gate. It was fated that, at the end of the battle, the two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, should meet in one-to-one combat and kill each other. Creon, the new king of Thebes, ordered that Eteocles be left to lie on the battlefield rather than be buried. He was opposed by Antigone, the sister of Eteocles and Polynices, who herself performed the forbidden burial service. The Epigoni, sons of the Seven, continued the war years later.

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