THE SEVEN AGAINST THEBES. Last Updated on May 5, 2015, by eNotes Editorial. GreekMythology.com, The Editors of Website. This led Polynices to assemble an army to take back the city. After King Oedipus left his city and cursed the princes, Polynices and his brother, Eteocles, decided to rule . Aeschylus ' Seven Against Thebes ( Hepta epi Thbas; Latinized as Septem contra Thebas) was originally performed at the City Dionysia of 467 B.C., as the final tragedy in a trilogy about the family of Oedipus (aka the House of Labdacus). Aeschylus won 1st prize for his tetralogy (the trilogy and a satyr play). In the end, they decided to share the throne, with Eteocles taking the first turn. Who attacked the seven gates of Thebes? The divisions of ancient plays were marked by interludes of choral odes. Over against the gate. The enemy is just outside the gate to the city, waiting for the fight to commence. The understanding of tragedies was mainly inferred from his plays that exist to date. With this in mind, Eteoclesexited through the gate to confront his brother. Eteocles (ee- TEE -oh-kleez), the son of Oedipus and grandson of Laius. The Herald says that the council of elders have decreed an honorable burial for Eteocles, but that his brother, a traitor, may not be buried. Then, Oedipus cursed them for their greed. Both Eteocles and Polynices, sons of Oedipus, wanted the throne, and could not decide who should have it. When the messenger brings the name of the last and seventh "Champion" to attack the seventh gate, it turns out to be Eteocles' brother Polynices. At this point, he dies. The Origins of the Seven Against Thebes The origins of the war occur with the sons of Oedipus disputing the throne of Thebes. The Seven Against Thebes essays are academic essays for citation. Update this section Seven Against Thebes 2nd greatest war in Greek myth, Aeschylus' Seven against Thebes and Euripides' Phoenician Women work with this myth, Oedipus has left Thebes, Eteocles and Polynices will rule Thebes, agree to share power and rule Thebes in alternate years This is where Seven Against Thebes begins. During the battle, they were confronted at the seven gates of Thebes by an equal number of defenders, whose names were Melanippus, Polyphontes, Megareus, Hyperbius, Actor, Lasthenes and Eteocles. GreekMythology.com editors write, review and revise subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge If until now he was known for his ambiguous little poems, now he wants to be as clear as water. GreekMythology.com college projects, free online courses) as long as you. Read the Study Guide for The Seven Against Thebes, Impossible Tasks in Seven Against Thebes and Agamemnon, View Wikipedia Entries for The Seven Against Thebes. Manage SettingsContinue with Recommended Cookies. Seven Against Thebes . They say it would be a pity were the city to be enslaved, sacked, and dishonored, the maidens raped. The basic question is this: do the names preserve the memory of actual fortifications, or are they purely the After the ruin and exile of Oedipus, the king of Thebes, his sons, Eteocles and Polynices, fall into dispute, each . He then criticizes women in general and these in particular for spreading panic. He was the only leader of the Seven to survive the war. When the time came for Polynices to rule, Eteocles refused to leave the throne, and the conflict began. At this moment, the lifeless bodies of Eteocles and Polynices are seen on the stage. ThoughtCo. Seven Against Thebes Revised by Gregory Nagy Eteocles Dwellers of the city of Cadmus, at the signal given by time and season must the ruler speak who sets the course and steers the ship of state with hand upon the tiller and with eye watchful against the treachery of sleep. In the end, they could not escape their . The legend of the Seven Hills of Plovdiv. The seven individuals who stand against Thebes and attempt to overtake it with their army from Argos. are The Seven Against Thebes essays are academic essays for citation. . The play concludes with a split within the Chorus. Eteocles and Polynices: Cursed Brothers and Sons of Oedipus. The chorus of women hears the din of the battle at the gate. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The scout delivering this news takes leave, Eteocles prays to Zeus and the Chorus laments and begs for protection from the gods. The brothers have each killed each other. He is referred to as the father of tragedy, since most genres were based on his works. Please Seven Against Thebes. Meanwhile, a council meeting has determined that Eteocles will receive a heros burial, but the body of Polyneiceswho would have lain waste to Thebeswill be left to rot unburied and food for scavenging birds. Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles all wrote about the Theban myths. For MLA style citation use: GreekMythology.com, The Editors of Website. https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/The_Myths/Seven_Against_Thebes/seven_against_thebes.html. SEVEN AGAINST THEBES concerns a battle between the sons of Oedipus for control of Thebes. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. You can help us out by revising, improving and updating this section. thissection. Only seven tragedies have survived intact: The Persians, Seven against Thebes, The Suppliants, the trilogy known as The Oresteia, consisting of the three tragedies Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers and The Eumenides, together with Prometheus Bound (whose authorship is disputed . Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make yourown. Website, 11 Jul. Seven Against Thebes was first produced in 467 BC in Athens, as the third part of a trilogy based on the attack of an Argive army on Thebes. "Plot Summary of Seven Against Thebes by Aeschylus." Eteocles chides the chorus for shrieking by the altars saying it doesn't help the army. 1-77. Eteocles responds by deciding who will be in charge of defending each of those gates. He describes their characters and their matching shields. In Aeschylus' tragedy Seven Against Thebes, Hippomedon is one of the seven champions who attack the seven gates of Thebes. The chorus (speaking in a call-and-response structure called a strophe and antistrophe) recounts the history of Laius and Oedipus, bemoaning the misfortune wrought on the city of Thebes by the curse of Cadmus's line. Eteocles acknowledges the curse upon his father, but decides to allow fate have its day. Eteocles and Polynices faced one another in front of the seventh gate. Touched the top. They are a guide to help the audience follow the action. The Seven Against Thebes They build an army with the seven greatest warriors: Polyneices, Adrastus, Tydeus, Capaneus, Hippomedon, Parthenopaeus, Amphiaraus, Adrastus. He has a curse laid upon him and his brother Polynices by their father, Oedipus, which prevents them from peacefully settling their disagreement about who should be King of Thebes. Copyright 1999 - 2022 GradeSaver LLC. The oracle had been fulfilled. In Aeschylus' play, a messenger appears telling that the Theban soldiers could repel the attack. Gill, N.S. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. The Seven against Thebes were seven champions in Greek mythology who made war on Thebes. There are 7 gates in the protective walls of Thebes and 7 valiant Greeks fight on either side of these entry points. They behave as though the city is collapsing. Long ago, Laius, the king of Thebes, was warned by the oracle of Apollo that, should he beget a son, this act would bring. The chorus begs him not to. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page. If the fates rule against him, so be it. If things go well the gods are thanked. The Question and Answer section for The Seven Against Thebes is a great The Seven Against Thebes study guide contains a biography of Aeschylus, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Eteocles, son of Oedipus and ruler of Thebes as a result of his fathers exile, has sent out a call for every man of every age to arrive in the city prepared for battle. The Spy informs Eteocles of the identity of each of the Argives and allies who will attack the gates of Thebes. He married his daughters to the two exiles: Argia 1 to Theban Polynices and Deipyle to Calydonian Tydeus 2, and having promised his sons-in-law to restore them both to their native lands he raised an army in order to march first against Thebes. Sexton, Timothy. The herald later informs us that for his honorable service, he is to be given a proper civil burial, in accordance with the honors befitting of a King. Upon learning that the person in charge of attacking the seventh gate is his own brother Polyneices, Eteocles announces he will be the defender there even as the Chorus warns against shedding the blood of his brother. The seven protecting Thebes were: Polynices and his seven champions died in the fight. First performed in 467 BC, Seven Against Thebes was the third play in a trilogy which included Laius and Oedipus; both of these plays, in addition to the accompanying satyr play Sphinx, are now no longer extant. Update this section! Dani Rhys has worked as a writer and editor for over 15 years. GreekMythology.com, T. Editors of Website (2015, July 11). This battle is the subject of Aeschylus' tragedy Seven Against Thebes. The line numbers do match the Perseus online edition, especially at the point of the funeral dirge. Among other issues, it requires the presence of a third speaker, Ismene. Half go off to accompany the body of Eteocles and half choose to follow Antigone with her plans to disregard the council ruling and bury her other brother. They were chosen by Adrastus, the king of Argos, to be the captains of an Argive army whose purpose was to restore Oedipus' son Polynices to the Theban throne. 1045-1070.The Chorus reviews the situation and decides to go help Antigone with the illicit burial of Polynices. She works as the chief editor of Symbol Sage but also takes the time to write on topics that interest her. She has been featured by NPR and National Geographic for her ancient history expertise. Attack on Thebes 1) One Theban to defend each gate of Thebes, a man with the Argives to attack it 2) Eteocles is paired with Polyneices 3) they both die 4) Only Adrastos escapes back to Argos 5) Thebes is spared Who are The Seven Against Thebes? resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/The_Myths/Seven_Against_Thebes/seven_against_thebes.html. Download Characters Character Analysis Character Map Seven Against Thebes | Characters Share Context Character Analysis Have study documents to share about Seven Against Thebes? Polynices went to Argos . It also showed the gate the hero fought at and which Theban champions they were killed by. You can help us out by revising, improving and updating THE ATTACK UPON THEBES. countries. Polynices, with a severely bruised ego, amasses a foreign army to take back his hometown. Polynices' attack on his native city fulfills a paternal curse, but the action that precipitated it was his brother Eteocles' unexpected refusal to surrender the throne at the end of his year. The Herald warns her not to be disobedient to the state and Antigone warns the Herald not to order her about. Seven Against Thebes The seven individuals who stand against Thebes and attempt to overtake it with their army from Argos. Written by people who wish to remainanonymous. 1:5). Which Argos member was one of the Seven Against Thebes? When the herald announces the new decree after the battle that Polynices body will be left to rot, she refuses, and states she will bury him regardless of the consequences. Who were the Seven Against Thebes? Word Count: 1035. He then dispenses Eteocles order for the responding champion back out to the battlefield. After you claim a section youll have 24 hours to send in a draft. The chorus responds fearfully to the descriptions (taking the shield device to be an accurate picture of the man carrying it). The play tells the story of the conflict between Eteocles and Polynices, sons of Oedipus, who fought over the throne of Thebes. Clansmen of Cadmus, at the signal given By time and season must the ruler speak Who sets the course and steers the ship of State With hand upon the tiller, and with eye Watchful against the treachery of sleep. The fight between the two brothers and their champions has inspired a variety of plays and tragedies. This philosophy astounds the Chorus who lament the possibility of each brother being slayed and leaving no one behind to oversee a proper burial for both. All action in the tragedy takes place inside the city walls. The term "Seven Against Thebes", in Greek mythology, refers to a war which saw "the Seven" commanders lead an Argive army against the city state of Thebes. WikiMatrix. thissection. 274-355.Still worried, they pray to the gods to spread panic among the enemy. The Spy says that the Argive warriors are at the walls of Thebes about to choose which gate to man. At this moment, the lifeless bodies of Eteocles and Polynices are seen on the stage. Chapter Summary for Aeschylus's Seven Against Thebes, episode 2 summary. 2015, The brothers Polynices and Eteocles met and fought against each other at the seventh gate. Accessed 16 November 2022. 807-995.The chorus reiterates the conclusion of the boys' father's curse. In Aeschylus' tragedy Seven In Greek mythology, the Seven against Thebes were seven champions who made war on Thebes. For if all go aright, thank Heaven, men say, But if adversely---which may God forefend!--- . The fate of the seven champions who tried to assault the city became a famous story in Greek mythology. He says he will post himself and 6 other men at the gates. He also announces the new decree(s) of the king, which mainly states that Eteocles will receive an honorable burial while Polynices will not. He has ordered all the men who can fight, even those too young and too old. "Plot Summary of Seven Against Thebes by Aeschylus." Polyniceswent to Argos, where he raised an army that was led by seven leaders. Seven Against Thebes . Here is a list of the seven Argive champions who fought against Thebes. In Aeschylus' tragedy Seven Against Thebes, Hippomedon is one of the seven champions who attack the seven gates of Thebes. They have four children: Eteocles, Polynices, Antigone, and Ismene. Upon learning that the person in charge of attacking the seventh gate is his own brother Polyneices, Eteocles announces he will be the defender there even as the Chorus warns against shedding the blood of his brother. Japanese Obon Festival Everything You Need to Know. Find a summary of this and each chapter of Seven Against Thebes! In Aeschylus version, the events end after the death of Eteocles and Polynices. Who was King Solomon? When the truth came out, his mother/wife killed herself in shame, and Oedipus was exiled from his city. Oedipus, the great king of seven-gated Thebes, who had defeated the riddling Sphinx, has discovered that he killed his father Laius and married his mother Jokasta. When Thebes was made an unique city with Ajax&Diomedes DLC they sure remembered that the city was famously called "Thebes of the seven gates". We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device.We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development.An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. (Eteocles, the Spy or Messenger or Scout). 707-776.The chorus and reveal the details of the family curse. Though Eteocles dies, the invasion if defeated and the "Seven Against Thebes" are also destroyed. And so, Aeschylus writes Eteocles as his hero. Not affiliated with Harvard College. https://www.thoughtco.com/plot-summary-of-seven-against-thebes-by-aeschylus-116741 (accessed December 12, 2022). Thus, the "Chorus" is who the main character on the stage typically converses with. The SEVEN AGAINST THEBES: Commanders Adrastus 1. Sophocles, who introduced the third actor, had already defeated Aeschylus in the preceding year's dramatic competition, so her presence is not necessarily anachronistic and her part is so small that it might have been taken by one of the otherwise non-speaking performers not listed among the regular, speaking actors. will review the submission and either publish your submission or providefeedback. The Seven Against Thebes study guide contains a biography of Aeschylus, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. GreekMythology.com, T. Editors of Website. The acropolis of Thebes in front of the royal palace. https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/The_Myths/Seven_Against_Thebes/seven_against_thebes.html. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. The trilogy's first two plays, Laius and Oedipus, as well as the satyr play Sphinx, are no longer extant. Once the messenger announces Eteocles and Polynices death at the seventh gate, the Herald appears to announce the new King. Usually the Seven were Polynices, Tydeus, Amphiaraus, Capaneus, Parthenopaeus, Hippomedon, and Adrastus or Eteoclus, whenever Adrastus is excluded. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make yourown. The two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, in order to avoid bloodshed, agreed to rule Thebes in alternate years. The chorus says it heard the army at the gates and was afraid and is asking the gods for help since it is in the power of gods to do what humans can't. Archaeological excavations in and around Thebes have revealed a Mycenaean settlement and clay tablets written in the Linear B . Here is a list of the seven Argive champions who fought against Thebes. The chorus is dismayed at Eteocles departure and cry out that if each bother slays the other, there will be no family to see to a proper burial. The Magnificent Seven (1960) written by William Roberts takes the idea of seven great warriors in Aeschylus's Seven Against Thebes and creates a modern movie demonstration where these men face against immeasurable odds in order to reestablish power to the rightful leader. It also showed the gate the hero fought at and which Theban champions they were killed by. Eteocles tells them their noise will bring the ruin of the city. Eteocles warns them again to restrain their panic and then goes off a tangent about the weakness of women. The production won first prize in the competition for that year. Polynices went back to Argos, where he would recruit the seven champions who would storm the seven gates of Thebes with him. He bears the image of a fire-breathing typhon on his shield and attacks the gate of Athena Onca, and is confronted by Hyperbius, son of Oenops. LibriVox recording of Seven Against Thebes by Aeschylus. This act of attack immediately assigns the elder child into the 'villain' character, rather than the selfish younger son who kicked him out in the first place. These were Tydeus, Capaneus, Adrastus, Hippomedon, Parthenopeus, Amphiaraus, and Polynices himself. The brothers Polynices and Eteocles met and fought against each other at the seventh gate. Seated on his throne, the king would therefore command a view of the entrance and court beyond, through the middle avenue of columns (see on ch. He then argues with Antigone, stressing to her the penalty for disobeying the new King's order. Of these four plays, only Seven Against Thebes has survived. The Chorus rejects this attempt at appeasement proceed with their wails of warning. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Seven Against Thebes by Aeschylus. Gill, N.S. Zeus struck Capaneus with a lightning bolt, and the others perished at the sword of the soldiers. Seven Against Thebes, in Greek mythology, the seven champions who were killed fighting against Thebes after the fall of Oedipus, the king of that city. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The first two plays (called Laius and Oedipus) and the satyr play which concluded the performance (Sphinx) have been lost. From King Laius to the downfall of Eteocles and Polynices, the story of the royal family of Thebes faced several misfortunes. King of Argos and son of Talaus. Seven leaders from each of the two rival armies lined up on either side of the seven gates of Thebes. ).Specifically, Thebes is one of the most famous cities in ancient Greece. "Seven Against Thebes." The myths of Thebes remain as one of the most widespread tales of ancient Greece, offering endless opportunities for scholarly studies of the differences and similarities in the plays from the authors of antiquity. He ends up choosing himself to go fight and defend the seventh gate since there is no one else left to do so. Unfortunately, the first two plays of the trilogy, called Laius and Oedipus, are mostly lost, and only a few fragments remain in existence. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The Question and Answer section for The Seven Against Thebes is a great Plot Summary of the Episodes and Stasima of "Oedipus Tyrannos," by Sophocles. Aeschylus was a tragedian from Greece, whose plays are still popular among readers nowadays. In Aeschylus tragedy, the seven fighting against Thebes were: On the side of the Thebans, seven champions were defending the gates. In the following act of the play, a messenger appeared saying that the attackers had been repelled, and the bodies of the two brothers were brought on stage. The scout enters with news about which of the attackers will lead the attack against each of the citys seven gates. This sets the stage for another tragedy, Antigone by Sophocles, though this ending scene is typically regarded as a later interpolation and not a part of Aeschylus' original tragedy. An editor Seven Against Thebes was first produced in 467 BC in Athens, as the third part of a trilogy based on the attack of an Argive army on Thebes. The story ended there; however, Sophocles wrote the continuation of the story in his tragedy Antigone.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'greekmythology_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',134,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-greekmythology_com-medrectangle-3-0'); See Also: Oedipus, Eteocles, Polynices, Tydeus, Capaneus, Adrastus, Hippomedon, Amphiaraus, Melanippus, Megareus, Actor, Antigoneif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[970,250],'greekmythology_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',121,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-greekmythology_com-medrectangle-4-0'); Written by: The Editors of GreekMythology.com. Eteocles decides which of his men is best suited to go against the specifics of shield + character flaw of the Argives. As the gates are quite close to each other, they allow defender to launch some quick and surprising attacks on the besieging army. They offer commentary, analyses, insight, and even debate on to the actions being undertaken. Website, July 11, 2015. Anonymous "The Seven Against Thebes Characters". The War of the Seven Against Thebes was the result of a succession dispute to the throne of Thebes. When Eteocles sat in Thebes as king, The line of succession after Oedipus downfall was unclear. 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