Myths of ThebesI. Foundation of ThebesII. OedipusIII> The Seven Against TebesIV. The AftermathI. The Foundation of Thebes1. Zeus and EuropaEuropa: Daughter of King Agenor of SidonZeus abducts Europa in the form of a bullCarries her across sea to CreteZeus + Europa = MinosEurope gets its name from Europa2. Cadmus and HarmoniaCadmusBrother of Europa back in SidonKing Agenor orders him and rest of sons to find Europa.Cadmus wanders all over, eventurally comes to Delphi . . .Cadmus and the CowPythia tells Cadmus:Forget EuropaBuy and follow a certain cow until it lies down:Start a new city there.The cow stops and Cadmus founds new city of “Cadmeia”Wishes to sacrifice the cow to Athena; sends men for waterHis men find a spring . . .The Serpent of AresCadmus slays the serpentCadmus and the SpartoiCadmus kills Are’ serpent at the sptingAthena tells him to sow the dragon’s teeth to make “Spartoi” (“Sown Men”)(Not = Spartans)Spartoi: ancestors of Theban RoyaltySpartoi fight themselves until 5 leftChthoniusCadmus serves Ares for 8 years for killing his serpent.Aphrodite and Ares . . .Cadmus and HarmoniaGods give Harmonia, daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, to Cadmus.Grand WeddingAttended by all the godsNecklace for Harmonia made by Hephaistos.Children 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 Pentheus . . .Labdacus does not rule longBut Labdacus’ son, Laius, is an infantPower vacuum in Cadmeia . . .Enter LycusKINGS OF CADMEIA1) Cadmus2) Pentheus3) Labdacus ( bastard grandson of Cadmus )4) Lycus ( son of chthonius, one of the Spartoi )5) Amphion and Zethus ( sons of Antiope + Zeus )6) Laius ( son of Labdacus )7) Creon8)ANTIOPE”S ORDEALA pregnant antiope flees her angry father, NycteusNycteus kills himself, but not before asking his brother Lycus to punish AntiopeLycus and wife Dirce take Antiope prisonerSons of Antiope and Zeus abandoned, but rescued by shepherdZethus= herdsmanAmphion= lyre playerAntiope escapes tortures of Lycus and Dirce, meets her sonsAMPHION AND ZETHUS:Kill 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 LaiusII OEDIPUS:LAIUS ASSUMES THE THRONEAmphion and Zethus die after a long reignLaius returns from exile to rule; marries Jocasta ( a.k.a Iocaste/ Epicaste )Oracle at Delphi has warned Laius not to have children…Laius sleeps with Jocasta anyway ( Doggie style, after short 69 session)A son is born…OEDIPUS THE BOY:Laius nails his infant son’s ankles together, orders him to be left out in the wildBaby found by some shepherds of Corinth Oedipus ( 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 motherStays away from Corinth ( home )Meets two men in Chariot on a narrow roadAltercationOedipus kills both men in anger-Laius and his driverAt Thebes, King Laius missing, presumed deadCreon now kingSphinx terrorizing the city-Creon’s decree: city and queenTHE RIDDLE OF THE SPHINXSphinx kills those who cannot answerWhat is four-footed, two-footed, and three-footed, but has one voice?Answer: ManOEDIPUS THE KINGWith defeat of the Sphinx, Oedipus becomes King of ThebesTakes Jocasta as wifeApollo’s prophecies to Laius and to Oedipus fulfilled.Children of Oedipu and Jocasta:Polyneices, Etocles, Ismene, AntigoneOedipus learns the truthIn Corinth, King Polybos dies.Queen Periboia tells Oedipus he’s adopted.Oedipus investigates and uncovers the truthJocasta commits suicide.Oedipus blinds himselfLeaves Thebes in exileBlind Oedipus leaves ThebesOedipus curses his sons. . .Eteocles and Polyneices. . . because they don’t help their father as he leaves ThebesOedipus escorted by Antigone, settles near AthensMeanwhile, back at Thebes . . .Eteocles 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 brother.Polyneices marries King Adrastos’ daughterAdrastos agrees to help Polyneices conquer ThebesThe Seven Walls of Thebes7 champions are gathered . . .The ‘Seven Against Thebes’Polyneices (son of Oedipus)Adrastos (King of Argos)Amphiaraos (Prophet)TydeusCapaneusParthenopaiosHippomedonAmphiaraos: bribery in ArgosAmphiaraos, foreseeing his own death, refuses Adrastos and will not fight.Polyneices bribes Eriphyle, Amphiaraos’ wife, with the necklace of HarmoniaEriphyle then orders Amphiaraos to fight(Amphiaraos must obey)Amphiaraos tells his sons to avenge him . . .Before the BattleTydeus sent ahead to negotiate with Thebans.Ignored at first, he challenges Thebans to athletic contests.Angry Tehbans send ambush after Tydeus leaves.Tydeus kills 49/50A prophecy of Tehban victoryTeirsesias (Theban Prophet):If one of the descendants of the Spartoi sacrifices himself, Thebes will be saved.Menoeceus, Creon’s son, kills himself to save the city.Early in the battleThebans driven back to their walls.Capaneus puts a ladder on the wall, begins to climb.Will take Tebes even against Zeus’ Will!Zeus strikes him down with thunderboltThebans’ courage restored.Eteocles prepares to defend Thebes against brother Polyneices.Eteocles and Polyneices kill each other in battle.The rest of the Seven?Only Adrastos escapes (back to Argos)Hippomedon, Parthenopaios killed in battle.Amphiaraos swallowed up by the earth, chariot and all.As for Tydeus . . .Given a fatal wound by a Theban, Melanippos.Athena intends to make him immortal . . .Amphiaraos gives Tydeus Melanippos’ head.Tydeus eats his brainsAthena is horrified, lets him die.The AftermathAntigone vs. CreonThe EpigonoiAntigone’s dilemmaCreon: no burial for ‘traitor’ PolyneicesAntigone: Polyneices’ sisterAntigone and Polyneices’ wife cremate his body; Antigone is caught.Antigone and HaemonCreon’s son, Haemon (Antigone’s fiancée) objects to Antigone’s death sentenceCreaon orders Haemon to kill AntigoneHaemon lets her go, lies to his fatherSon of Antigone and Haemon grows up, comes to Thebes for athletic