POLYNICES IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Polynices in Greek Mythology
Polynices was the son of Oedipus in Greek mythology, and a man who should have been co-regent of Thebes, but ended up being cursed twice by his father, and ended up killed by his brother’s sword.
Polynices Son of Oedipus
Polynices is commonly said to have been the son of Oedipus, born from an incestuous relationship between Oedipus and his own mother Jocasta. From this parentage, Polynices would have a brother, Eteocles, and two sisters, Antigone and Ismene.
Polynices and the Curse of Oedipus
Polynices, and his siblings, would grow up in Thebes, where Oedipus was king, but a plague had hit the city, and in trying to find a way to rid the city of the disease, Oedipus found out that he had unknowingly killed his father, Laius, and had married his own mother, Jocasta.
Oedipus was forced to abdicate, and though he wished to leave Thebes, he was prevented from doing so, for Polynices and Eteocles imprisoned him, so that other’s might not see the former king, and be reminded of the two brother’s own shame. |
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The actions of Polynices and his brother would bring forth a curse from their father, for Oedipus proclaimed that neither of his sons would hold on to the throne of Thebes.
Polynices and Eteocles then sent their father into exile, and Oedipus departed from Thebes guided by Antigone; eventually, Oedipus would end up in Colonus.
Polynices and Eteocles then sent their father into exile, and Oedipus departed from Thebes guided by Antigone; eventually, Oedipus would end up in Colonus.
Polynices in Exile
To avoid the curse of Oedipus, Eteocles and Polynices agreed to rule Thebes in alternate years, with Eteocles being king first.
At the end of the year, Polynices came to Eteocles to claim the throne, but Eteocles refused to yield, and with the backing of the Theban people, Eteocles sent Polynices into exile. Polynices would leave Thebes, having stolen several of the ancient artefacts of Thebes, including the Robe and Necklace of Harmonia.
Polynices would first travel to Colonus, for now he sought assistance from his father, but Oedipus would not help his son, and instead added to the curse he had previously uttered, for now Oedipus told Polynices that he was destined to die at the hands of one of his own family members.
Polynices would travel onwards, arriving eventually in Argos, and the Argive kingdom ruled by Adrastus.
At the end of the year, Polynices came to Eteocles to claim the throne, but Eteocles refused to yield, and with the backing of the Theban people, Eteocles sent Polynices into exile. Polynices would leave Thebes, having stolen several of the ancient artefacts of Thebes, including the Robe and Necklace of Harmonia.
Polynices would first travel to Colonus, for now he sought assistance from his father, but Oedipus would not help his son, and instead added to the curse he had previously uttered, for now Oedipus told Polynices that he was destined to die at the hands of one of his own family members.
Polynices would travel onwards, arriving eventually in Argos, and the Argive kingdom ruled by Adrastus.
Polynices and AdrastusWelcomed by Adrastus, Polynices would get into a fight with another exiled prince, Tydeus of Calydon, but rather than be angry, Adrastus took this as a sign fulfilling a previous prophecy, and so Polynices would become wed to Argia, King Adrastus’ daughter.
By Argia, Polynices would become father to three sons, Thersander, Timeas and Adrastus. King Adrastus also agreed to organise an army to help Polynices to gain the throne of Thebes. Seven army commanders were appointed to lead the army, with Polynices of course being one. One of the leaders was to be King Amphiaraus, another Argive king, but Amphiaraus was a seer who well knew of the disaster that would befall the Argive army in an expedition against Thebes. Polynices though, used the Necklace of Harmonia as a bribe, offering it to Amphiaraus’ wife, Eriphyle, if she would decide that Amphiaraus was to join the army. Eriphyle would accept the bribe, and so Amphiaraus became one of the commanders. With seven commanders in place, the war of the “Seven Against Thebes” could begin. |
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Polynices and the War with Thebes
Initially, an effort was made to avoid bloodshed, for Tydeus went ahead of the army to ask Eteocles to relinquish the throne as has previously been agreed between the sons of Oedipus. Eteocles though rejected this request, and so war began.
Previously, Eteocles was believed to be in the wrong for he had broken a promise, but Polynices now was also blamed, for he had brought a foreign army to Thebes, which could only lead to death and destruction.
The Argive army camped outside of Thebes, and the Seven Commanders placed themselves, and their portions of the army, opposite the seven gates of Thebes, each of which was defended by a named Theban commander.
Thus, Polynices was said to face Eteocles, at either the Proetidian or Hypsistan gate.
Battle ensued, and deaths mounted amongst the Argive and Theban armies. Eventually, it was decided that the war would come to an end with single combat between Polynices and Eteocles; and so, the two brothers fought each other. In the fight, the brothers killed each other, and so Oedipus’ curses had come to fruition.
Previously, Eteocles was believed to be in the wrong for he had broken a promise, but Polynices now was also blamed, for he had brought a foreign army to Thebes, which could only lead to death and destruction.
The Argive army camped outside of Thebes, and the Seven Commanders placed themselves, and their portions of the army, opposite the seven gates of Thebes, each of which was defended by a named Theban commander.
Thus, Polynices was said to face Eteocles, at either the Proetidian or Hypsistan gate.
Battle ensued, and deaths mounted amongst the Argive and Theban armies. Eventually, it was decided that the war would come to an end with single combat between Polynices and Eteocles; and so, the two brothers fought each other. In the fight, the brothers killed each other, and so Oedipus’ curses had come to fruition.
After the Death of Polynices
Such an ending was not a clear-cut one, but did bring about an end to the war, for all of the Seven Against Thebes, save for Adrastus were now dead. Thebes remained unconquered, and the Argive army withdrew, leaving Creon to act as regent for the city of Thebes.
Creon blamed Polynices for bringing death and destruction to Thebes, and so he ordered that none of the attackers, Polynices included, were to be buried; anyone disobeying this edict would themselves be put to death. Without proper burial rites, then the souls of the deceased could not cross the River Acheron in the Underworld. Antigone, Polynices’ sister, ignored the edict, and buried her brother, for which Creon sentenced her to death. Shortly afterwards, an Athenian army arrived at Thebes, led by Theseus, who ordered Creon to bury the dead, for his edict was an affront to all that was right. Revenge for Polynices would come ten years after his death, for another army came to Thebes, an army led by the Epigoni, the sons of the original Seven Against Thebes. Thersander, son of Polynices, was one of the leaders. After victory at Glisas, the Thebans fled from Thebes, and unopposed the Epigoni entered the city, where Thersander was proclaimed King of Thebes. |
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Colin Quartermain - Polynices - 13th February 2020