Lecture Notes: The Seven Against Thebes

Overview

• Thebes was besieged in a mythological event known as the Seven Against Thebes (Hepta Epithebas).
• The story primarily involves the sons of Oedipus: Polyneikes and Ataocles.
• The most famous retelling is by Aeschylus, but additional details can be sourced from other epic poems and fragments.

Background

• Oedipus: Former king of Thebes; killed his father and married his mother, leading to his blinding and exile.
• Sons of Oedipus: Polyneikes and Ataocles were supposed to alternate the kingship.
• Conflicts arise when Ataocles refuses to abdicate, leading to Polyneikes' exile.

Key Characters

• Polyneikes: Exiled son of Oedipus seeking to reclaim his throne.
• Ataocles: His brother, who refuses to share the throne.
• Tydeus: Another royal exile who becomes Polyneikes' ally; associated with rage and prowess in battle.
• Adrastus: King of Argos, who helps Polyneikes and Tydeus assemble an army.

The Seven Champions

1. Adrastus - King of Argos, leads the army.
2. Tydeus - Known for his ferocity and strength.
3. Cappaneus - Described as a giant, threatens to burn Thebes.
4. Amphiarius - A seer, brother-in-law of Adrastus.
5. Hippomadon - Approaches battle with a frenzied spirit.
6. Parthenopaeus - The youngest, described as exceptionally beautiful.
7. Polyneikes - The final champion leading the charge for his claim.

The Siege of Thebes

• The army sets out from Argos after assembling at Nemea and camping near Kithairon.
• Tydeus is sent as a messenger to Ataocles but is ignored.
• Tydeus challenges Theban warriors and defeats them until he is ambushed by fifty men.
• Tydeus defeats all fifty, leading to the Argive army's siege on Thebes.

Notable Events in Battle

• Sound of Battle: Aeschylus captures the chaos of battle in his descriptions.
• Tidaeus vs. Melanippus: Both duel and mortally wound each other; Tidaeus acts in a frenzy.
• Cappaneus Struck Down: Zeus intervenes, killing him with a thunderbolt.
• Amphiarius' Prophecy: Despite foreseeing defeat, he fights but ultimately dies when Zeus opens the ground beneath him.
• Final Duel: Polyneikes and Ataocles face off and mutually slay each other.

Conclusion

• The battle results in the demise of six champions and the survival of only Adrastus.
• Thebes remains standing but without a king; the saga continues beyond this point.

Themes and Significance

• The story highlights themes of fate, the consequences of familial conflict, and the unpredictability of war.
• Sets the stage for future narratives in Greek mythology, particularly regarding Thebes and its fate.