Myths of Thebes1) Zeus and EuropaEuropa: Daughter of King Agenor of SidonZeus abducts Europa in the form of a bullCarries her across sea to CreteEuropaZeus + Europa= son MinosEurope gets its name from Europa2) Cadmus and HarmoniaBrother of Europa back in SidonKing Agenor orders him and rest of sons to find EuropaCadmus wanders all over, eventually comes to DelphiOracle: not straight given answerCadmus and the CowPythia tells Cadmus:Forget EuropaBuy and follow a certain cow until it lies downThe cow stops and Cadmus founds new city of “Cadmeia”Wishes to sacrifice the cow to Athena; sends men for waterMen find spring, guarded by serpentDescendants from AresCadmus slays the serpentCadmus and the SpartoiCadmus kills Ares’ serpent at the springAthena tells him to sow the dragon’s teeth to make “spartoi” (“sown men”)(Not= Spartans)Spartoi: ancestors of Theban royaltySpartoi fight themselves until 5 leftChthonius (earth god)Cadmus serves Ares for 8 years for killing his serpentCadmus and HarmoniaGods give Harmonia, daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, to CadmusGrand weddingAttended by all the godsNecklace for Harmonia made by HephaistosChildren of Cadmus and Harmonia:Ino (driven insane by Hera)Autonoe (mother of Actaion)Semele (mother of Dionysos)Agave (mother of Pentheus)After CadmusAged Cadmus and Harmonia leave CadmeiaTurned into serpents by ZeusPentheus becomes king; destroyed by Agave/ DionysosNext ruler: LabdacusA bastard grandson of CadmusAfter PentheusLabdacus does not rule longBut Labdacus’ son, Laius, is an infantPower vacuum in CadmeiaEnter Lycus3. SONS OF ANTIOPEKings of CadmeiaCadmusPentheusLabdacus (bastard grandson of Cadmus)Lycus (son of the Chthonius)Amphion and Zethus (sons of Antiope and Zeus)Liaus (son of Labdacus)CreonOedipusZeus gets Antiope pregnantAntiope’s ordealA pregnant antiope flees her angry father, NycteusNycteus kills himself, but not before asking his brothers Lycus to punish AntiopeLycus and wife Dirce take Antiope prisonerSons of Antiope and Zeus abandoned, but rescued by shepherdZethus = (herdsman)Amphion = (lyre player)Antiope escapes tortures of Lycus and Dirce, meets her sonsIdentities discoveredAmphion and ZethusKill Lycus and Dirce for imprisoning AntiopeDirce: tied to an angry bullZethus marries ThebeAmphion marries NiobeAmphion and Zethus build new walls for Cadmeia and rename it ThebesExpel LaiusOEDIPUSLiaus assumes the throneAmphion and Zethus die after a long reignLiaus returns from exile to rule, marries Jocasta (a.k.a. Iocaste/Epicaste)Oracle at Delphi has warned Laius not to have childrenLiaus sleeps with Jocasta anywayA son is born…Oedipus the boyLiaus nails his infant son’s ankles together, orders him to be left out in the wildBaby found by some shepherds of CorinthOedipus (swollen feet) adopted by Polybos and Periboia, the king and queen of CorinthTaunted by jealous peersVisits oracle at Delphi:Avoid home or you’ll murder your father and have sex with your motherOedipus the WandererStays away from Corinth (“home”)Meets two men in chariot on narrow roadAltercationOedipus kills both men in angerLiaus and his driverAt Thebes, King Laius missing, presumed deadCreon now kingSphinx terrorizing the cityCreon’s decree: city and queenThe riddle of the SphinxSphinx kills those who cannot answerWhat is four footed, two footed, three footed but has one voice?A humanOedipus the KingWith defeat of the Sphinx, Oedipus becomes king of ThebesTakes Jocasta (his mother) as his wife and queenApollo’s prophecies to Laius and to Oedipus fulfilledChildren of Oedipus and Jocasta:Polyneices, Eteocles, Ismene, AntigoneOedipus learns the TruthIn Corinth, King Polybos diesQueen Periboia tells Oedipus he’s adoptedOedipus investigates and uncovers the truthJocasta commits suicideOedipus blinds himselfLeaves Thebes in exileBlind Oedipus leaves ThebesOedipus curses his sonsEteocles and PolyneicesBecause they don’t need help their father as he leaves ThebesOedipus, escorted by Antigone, settles near AthensDies thereMeanwhile Back at ThebesEteocles and Polyneices quarrel over kingshipAgree to alternate every year; Eteocles goes firstEteocles refuses to allow Polyneices to rulePreparations for WarPolyneices appeals to Adrastos, king of Argos, for support against his brotherPolyneices marries King Adrastos’ daughterAdrastos agrees to help Polyneices conquer ThebesSeven champions are gathered for the seven walls of ThebesThe ‘Seven Against Thebes’Polyneices (son of Oedipus)Adrastos (King of Argos)Amphiaraos (prophet)TydeusCapaneusParthenopaiosHippomedonAmphiaraos: bribery in ArgosAmphiaraos, foreseeing his own death, refuses Adrastos & will no fightPolyneices bribes Eriphyle, Amphiaraos’ wife, with the necklace of Harmonia(Amphiaraos must obey)Amphiaraos tells his sons to avenge himBefore the BattleTydeus sent ahead to negotiate with ThebansIgnored at first, he challenges Thebans to athletic contestsAngry Thebans send ambush after Tydeus leavesTydeus kills 49/50A prophecy of Theban VictoryTeiresias (Theban prophet): if one of the descendants of the Spartoi sacrifices himself, Thebes will be savedMenoeceus, Creon’s son, kills himself to save the cityEarly in the battleThebans driven back to their wallsCapaneus puts a ladder on the wall, begins to climbWill take Thebes even against Zeus’ will!Zeus strikes him down w/ thunderboltThebans’ courage restoredEteocles prepares to defend Thebes against brother PolyneicesEteocles and Polyneices kill each other in battleThe rest of the seven?Only Adrastos escapes (back to Argos)Hippomedon, Parthenopaios killed in battleAmphiaraos swallowed up by the earth, chariot and allAs for TydeusGiven a fatal wound by Theban, MelanipposAthena intends to make him immortalAmphiaraos gives Tydeus Melanippos’ headTydeus eats his brainsAthena is horrified, lets him dieThe AftermathAntigone’s dilemmaCreon: no burial for ‘traitor’ PolyneicesAntigone: Polyneices’ sisterAntigone and Polyneices’ wife cremates his body; Antigone is caughtAntigone and HaemonCreon’s son Haemon (Antigone’s fiancée), objects to Antigone’s death sentenceCreon orders Haemon to kill AntigoneHaemon lets her go, lies to his fatherSon of Antigone and Haemon grows up comes to Thebes for athletic festivalSpartoi birthmark recognized by CreonCreon’s angerCreon disowns HaemonHaemon kills himself and AntigoneTHE EPIGONOI (“NEXT GENERATION”)Amphiaraos’ order to his sons…Alcmaion, Ampharaos’ son, kills his