The story of the cursed House of Thebes

The story of the cursed House of Thebes as taken from the following Sophoclean plays Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone

The First Family of Greek Tragedy was the House of Cadmus, the royal family of Thebes was a real city in central Greece with real history, but there was a dark side. Thebes had a bizarre mythological history which was much more disturbing than most other cities’ mythologies.

The curse begins… Laius visited Pelops, King of Pisa. Pelops and a nymph had an illegitimate child named Chrysippus. Laius was tasked with teaching the child to drive a chariot. Unfortunately, Laius developed “feelings” for the beautiful Chrysippus. A kidnapping and rape followed. Chrysippus killed himself. Pelops laid a curse on the Theban king which would eventually come to fruition.

Agenor (son of Poseidon) was King of Phonecia. He had a beautiful daughter named Europa’s brother Cadmus was sent to look for her. Cadmus never found his sister, but he did follow another cow and started a city where it stopped to rest.

The Oracle at Delphi tells Cadmus to forget his sister and break off to establish his own city.

Cadmus’s site was next to a spring- inconveniently it was a sacred spring of Ares had placed a dragon there to guard the spring. Cadmus killed the dragon then sacrificed his cow to Athena said he should plant the dragon’s teeth to see what would happen.

When Cadmus planted the seeds, the teeth immediately sprouted into armed men, called Spartoi or “sown men” after the way they were created. They started fighting. Guess how Cadmus stopped them. When the dust settled there were five warriors left.

On the plus side, Cadmus had a population for his city. On the minus side, he had to serve Ares for eight years. After his time was up Athena arranged for him to be King of Thebes (the new city) and Zeus found a wife for him. Harmoniadaughter of Ares and Aphrodite.

Small sample of what happened to the family: The children of Cadmus and Harmonia were named Semele, Agave, Polydorus, Ino, and Illyrius. Semele-Dionysus’ mother who saw Zeus in his godly form and died Ino-jumped into the sea with her dead son’s body in her arms; became a sea goddess; eventually saved Odysseus. Her husband was struck with madness and killed her son.

Polydorus’ s son became king of Thebes, and after him his son Laius marries his third cousin, Jocasta has a brother named Creon. Laius and Jocasta received an oracle: You will have a son, and he will kill you.

To stop the prophesy from coming true, they hobbled the baby and had him left on a mountainside. A shepherd found the baby, picked him up, passed him to another shepherd, who eventually took him to the King and Queen of Corinth who had recently lost their baby.

They named him Oedipus because of his swollen feet. They did not tell him he was adopted.

When he came of age, Oedipus journeyed to the Oracle at Delphi where he learned he was fated to kill his father and marry his own mother. He decided to leave Corinth so this would never, ever happen!

Three roads converged near Delphi. As he reached the intersection he met a wagon carrying some important person. One of the attendants hit Oedipus with a club to make him stand off the road as the wagon passed. In a rage, Oedipus killed all the men but one. These things happened back then.

In addition to rude travelers, the road also had a monster. A sphinx, ( woman’s head, lion’s body, snake for tail, wings) had taken up residence on the road. This sphinx was asking riddles and killing anyone who answered incorrectly. Theban king had been to the Oracle to find out the answer and banish the sphinx. Too bad he never made it home.

The riddle… What creature walks on four legs in the morning, two at midday, and three legs in the evening? Oedipus answered correctly and the sphinx threw herself off a cliff and died. The people of Thebes were so happy about the deceased sphinx they made Oedipus their king.

The new king was expected to marry the widow of the old king, so he did. They had four children. Eteocles Polynices Antigone Ismene

Everyone was happy, until the plague struck. Oedipus sent Creon to Delphi to find out how to end the Gods’ punishment. Creon reports to Oedipus that Apollo says the plague wouldn’t end until the people of Thebes found the murderer of King Laius and bring him to justice.

Oedipus felt relieved that all he had to do to end the drought was find Laius’s killer. His relief came too soon!

Oedipus sent for Tiresias the blind prophet to help solve the mystery of the murder. When Oedipus asks the question, “Who did it? ” Tiresias refuses to answer.

Side note Tireseas was not born a blind prophet. One day he was walking along a path in the mountains and saw two snakes copulating. He killed the snakes (who needs more snakes, right? ) The snakes disappeared, and Tiresias was transformed into a woman. He remained a woman for seven years. In the eighth year he was walking along the same path, saw two more snakes, and whacked them with his stick. Now he was transformed back into a man.

Years later Hera and Zeus were having a PG-13 argument regarding pleasure. They decided to consult Tiresias, since he had been both male and female. When faced with the gods Tiresias knew there was no way he could win. He declared Zeus was correct and Hera blinded him in her rage. Zeus felt slightly guilty, so he gave Tiresias the gift of prophetic sight and allowed him to live for seven lifetimes.

Oedipus accuses Tiresias of being complicit in the murder and cover-up. Tiresias finally told him, “You are the murderer you seek. ”

Jocasta said she did not believe in prophets because of the inaccurate prophesy she had received concerning the death of Laius at the hands of his own son. What message did Delphi give to Jocasta and her family?

Jocasta continues the story she believes exonerates Oedipus. My husband I left the child to die. Laius was killed by robbers at the intersection of three roads to Delphi.

While this denial of fact is occurring, Apollo comes to announce the death of Polybus to the court of Thebes. Who was Polybus? ? Why would Jocasta say this death proved her point?

Foreshadowing… Apollo asks Oedipus whether fear of killing his father, Polybus, had driven him from Corinth. What revelation is this leading us to?

Both Jocasta and Oedipus suffer once they learn the truth. In what way does each of the characters punish herself or himself?

It’s time to read the play!!!

The saga continues… Antigone and Ismene, the daughters of Oedipus, discuss the disaster which has befallen them. Their father is banished, and their brothers have killed each other over control of Thebes. Creon is finally in charge.

Antigone…Sophocles “My own flesh and blood—dear sister, dear Ismene, how many griefs our father Oedipus handed down! Do you know one, I ask you, one grief that Zeus will not perfect for the two of us while we still live and breathe? There’s nothing, no pain—our lives are pain— no private shame, no public disgrace, nothing I haven’t seen in your grief and mine. (Antigone, 1 -8)

“my own flesh and blood” Antigone left with her father. She didn’t think it was wise to allow her blind father to wander around the countryside. Ismene remained in Thebes to protect her father’s interests.

Now that the king is gone… Creon is now Regent. Each son wanted to become the new king of Thebes. Technically the older son should get the job, but both wanted power. Eteocles became king and exiled Polyneices.

The words of Creon… “Anarchy—show me a greater crime in all the earth! She, she destroys cities, rips up houses, breaks the ranks of the spearmen into headlong rout. But the ones who last it out, the great mass of them owe their lives to discipline. Therefore we must defend the men who live by law, never let some woman triumph over us. Better to fall from power, if fall we must, at the hands of a man—never be rated inferior to a woman, never. ” (Antigone, 751 -761)

Polyneices went to Argos to try to raise an army. Oedipus and Antigone found refuge in Colonus which was near Athens. Colonus was the home of the Furies (aka the benignant goddesses).

What a mess. Oedipus dies with Antigone and Ismene by his side. Apollo promised that Oedipus would bring a mysterious blessing from the gods to the place where his grave lay. Theseus welcomed Oedipus to Athens. He died a happy man, and with his death Athens was blessed.

The sisters return to Thebes and find Eteocles fighting to save Thebes from attack, and Polyneices fighting to regain power of Thebes. The sisters refused to choose sides with either brother.

Polyneices has recruited an army of six champions to lead his attack against Thebes. (SEVEN gates-SEVEN champions) Adrastus, King of Argos and his brother- in – law, Amphiaraus) One of the seven was Amphiaraus, a prophet, who knew that of the seven only Adrastus would survive.

Amphiaraus joined unwillingly. His wife Eriphyle was trusted to be the “tie breaker” when he and her brother had disputes. Polyneices bribed her with a beautiful necklace. The necklace was gift Harmonia received on her wedding day. (the cursed necklace)

About that necklace… HARMONIA was the goddess of harmony and concord. As a daughter of Aphrodite, she presided over marital harmony, soothing strife and discord; as a daughter of Ares, she represented harmonious action in war. Late Greek and Roman writers sometimes portrayed her as harmony in the more abstract sense : a deity presiding over the cosmic harmony.

More about that necklace… Harmonia was born of Aphrodite's adulterous affair with the god Ares. She was awarded to Kadmos, the hero founder of Thebes, in a wedding attended by all the gods. Hephaistos, however, was still furious over his wife's betrayal, and presented Harmonia with a cursed necklace, which doomed her descendants to endless tragedy. http: //www. theoi. com/Ouranios/Harmonia. html

Creon was told the only way Thebes could be saved was if Menoeceus-his son-was killed. Creon tried to save his son by sending him away, but Menoeceus did not want to be a coward so he sneaked into the battle. He died almost instantly.

Neither side was able to gain an advantage over the other. They chose a new way to settle the war.

The brothers vying for the throne fought a hand-to-hand battle. Both died.

As they died, Polyneices requested of his brother , “My brother, my enemy, but always loved. Bury me in my homeland-to have so much at least of my city. ”

Creon is now king. He proclaims that Eteocles should receive full burial rites since he fought FOR Thebes. He also proclaims Polyneices should be left for the birds and beasts to devour. Furthermore, no one who fought against Thebes should be buried.

This meant the souls of the dead could not cross the River Styx and were left to wander the Earth for eternity. Antigone could not accept this fate for her brother.

Antigone and Ismene had no rights regarding the burial of their brothers. Antigone said she would go bury the brother she loved.

A sentry reports to Creon that someone had given Polyneices burial rites. Creon believes some enemy of the city has bribed the sentries to perform this deed. He vows to execute the sentry if no other culprit is found. The body is disinterred.

The sentry catches Antigone as she tries to bury her brother a second time. Antigone confesses, and accuses Creon of defying the will of the gods. Creon condemns Antigone and Ismene to death.

Creon’s son, Haemon, enters the room. Creon asks his opinion. Haemon eventually decides his father is being a bit harsh, especially since Antigone is Haemon’s fiancee.

Creon curses Haemon and threatens to kill Antigone in front of him. Haemon leaves. Creon decides to pardon Ismene and wall Antigone up in a tomb.

More prophesy… Tiresias arrives with advice which Creon promises to accept. Tiresias advises Creon allow Polyneices to be buried. Creon refuses. Tiresias predicts (more) curses will rain down from the gods.

Creon has a change of heart. He is afraid of the prophesy. He decides to allow Antigone to go free, but first he buries Polyneices. The delay was a mistake.

They arrive at the tomb to hear Haemon wailing. Antigone is hanging from a noose. Haemon tries to stab his father, but turns the sword on himself instead. Eurydice, Creon’s wife, stabs herself when she hears the news. She also called down the curses of Olympus.

IDENTIFY THIS ELEMENT IN THE MAJOR CHARACTERS FATAL FLAWPart of Speech: noun Definition: major character weakness Synonyms: Achilles' heel, failing flaw, hamartia, tragic flaw, weak point http: //thesaurus. com