Historian Norman Castor in his book Antiquity said that the purpose of Aeschylus's dramas was not to tell a story but to explore a problem. Eteocles, the last hope of Thebes, fights his brother at gate seven where both are killed. I'm afraid: the din at the gates grows louder. Seven Against Thebes . Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Plot Summary of “The Seven against Thebes” by Aeschylus. Years later, an adult Oedipus returns to his birthplace of Thebes and unknowingly fulfills the prophecy – killing his father and marrying his mother. To the chorus Eteocles speaks of his plans: I will take six men, myself to make the seventh, and go to post them at the city's gates, opponents of the enemy, in gallant style. If the people fail to obey his orders - both men and women - they will be sentenced to death. 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. 9.1", "denarius") All Search Options [view abbreviations] Home Collections/Texts Perseus Catalog Research Grants Open Source About Help. Who is the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Ares? World History Encyclopedia. Attendants bring in the bodies of the two slain brothers. This is quite evident is the climax; Antigone only appears in the final lines of the play to voice her concern about Polynices' unburied body. 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. I'm not sure how else to title the generic article. In an attempt to ease their worries, he has sent spies and scouts to the enemy. Books Web. Eventually, Oedipus, now the king of Thebes, learns of his sinful deed, blinds himself, and goes into exile. Enter Eteokles with attendants. 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. Update this section! (93). As with Sophocles' play Antigone declares: … yet will I bury him and take the danger on my head alone when that is done. He chooses his first champion to face the enemy. Seven Against Thebes does not profess to answer that question, but most tragically and profoundly presents it to us. Aeschylus’ Seven Against Thebes ). He began writing about this same time, winning his first victory in 484 BCE. He was best known for his use of the chorus and introduction of a second speaking actor thereby allowing plot development to be given more freedom. Finally, the messenger speaks to Eteocles. Despite this rather abrupt conclusion, the play has stood the test of time and influenced not only his fellow tragedians but others well into the Renaissance. Another daughter, Deipyle, married Tydeus, son of the exiled king Oeneus of Calydon. However, after the first year, Eteocles refused to step down and drove out Polynices, who fled to Argos. She added that he was profoundly religious but somewhat radical, pushing aside the trappings of traditional Greek religion. When Eteocles refused to give up the throne, Adrastus mobilized an army, whose chieftains, in Aeschylus’s tragedy about the Seven, were Tydeus, Capaneus, Eteoclus, Hippomedon, Parthenopaeus, Amphiaraus, and Polyneices. As with the Sophocles play, Antigone attempts to bury her brother Polynices (he is considered a traitor), despite the warnings of the Theban leadership. Eteocles returns just as a messenger arrives with news of the enemy; each Argive champion stands at his appointed gate. They shout to Zeus, to Apollo and to Athena. Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. The Question and Answer section for The Seven Against Thebes is a great resource to ask questions, find … The name of the gates attacked by the Seven was also given in … At the end of the year, Polyneices’ turn came to rule Thebes. Concerning these a singular oracle had been issued: their father, so it was said, would wed one of them to a lion, the other to a boar. The Persians, 2. Of his over 90 plays only six have survived – the authorship of a seventh Prometheus Bound is in question. We are now World History Encyclopedia to better reflect the breadth of our non-profit organization's mission. They all watch as the men do battle at the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth gates. Antigone with Polynices' BodyVladoubidoOo (CC BY-SA). As Eteocles leaves, furiously determined to defend his city to his dying breath – “May they never hold the free land and city of Cadmusbeneath the yoke of slavery!” – a chorus of Theban girls enters the stage in fearful agitation. Please support World History Encyclopedia Foundation. After you claim a section you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. The messenger soon returns. Aeschylus could count on his audience knowing the story depicted in the tragedy without his having to fill in a lot of details. Cite This Work 14 used from $4.75. He pleads with them to keep the altar, help the children, and lastly to help mother Earth. In Aeschylus' tragedy Seven Against Thebes, Mecisteus is not among the seven champions who attack the seven gates of Thebes. Aeschylus ' Seven Against Thebes (Hepta epi Thēbas; 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). He asks for his greaves to shield him. Ancient History Encyclopedia has a new name! THE SEVEN AGAINST THEBES. 24 used & new from $1.50. In Argos. LibriVox recording of Seven Against Thebes by Aeschylus. To avoid this tragedy the baby Oedipus is sent away with orders to be killed. The twins Eteocles and Polyneices, who had been cursed by their father, Oedipus, failed to agree on which of them was to succeed to the Theban throne and decided to rule in alternate years. Updates? When Oedipus was found guilty of both murder and incest, he was forced to abdicate. Definition. With brothers' hands they achieved their mutual murder. He died there around 456 BCE. The two brothers eventually kill each…. (79-80). Speaking to the chorus, Eteocles is angry and says there are many in the city who are afraid, accusing them of being spiritless cowards. Aeschylus won … This time on MonarchsFactory we revisit the story of the Seven Against Thebes, couched comfortably between the stories of Oedipus and Antigone. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Within Suppliants there are many points to be made regarding the Us Against the World topic for this course. From fruits to winged sandals, test your knowledge in this study of Greek and Roman mythology. POLYNICES AND TYDEUS AS THE GUESTS OF ADRASTUS. One by one, Eteocles selects the champions to face the enemy. 08 May 2021. Thank you! What god or goddess will shelter them? Hear how he curses the city and what fate he invokes on her. Until the very end when Antigone and Ismene make their appearance, much of the play is spent with Eteocles speaking to the chorus. 43 likes. It is the story of the war the broke out after Oedipus was exiled from the city of Thebes, and his sons Eteocles and Polynices ascended to the throne. Let us turn to the story of the play, which draws upon the same mythological background as Sophocles Theban plays, written a generation later. However, to fully understand and appreciate the play the casual observer had to understand the plight of the doomed family of the king and the legend surrounding the tragedy of Oedipus. Wasson, Donald L.. "Seven Against Thebes." Oedipus went into exile after he learned of his involvement of his father’s death. He asks the king who shall be sent to the first gate, who deserves their trust. “His resolve is not to seem, but to be, the best.”. Many scholars believe that parts of the play were rewritten years later to keep it in line with Sophocles' Antigone, a play presented 15 years after Aeschylus's death. O lord of the steed and the sea, be thy trident uplifted to smite In eager desire of the fray, Poseidon! Paul August ☎ 14:33, 15 July 2020 (UTC) The herald stands fast, forbidding her, but she remains resolute. As Eteocles’ turn came first, Polyneices withdrew to Argos, where he married Argeia, daughter of King Adrastus. Eteocles chose to rule first, but at the end of his year refused to relinquish the throne to his brother, forcing Polynices to go into exile. He informs them that a prophet has foretold that the enemy plans an assault, so they must tend to the gates and towers. He is my brother. (75). Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/Seven_Against_Thebes/. He died at Megara on the homeward journey. The third and final play in Aeschylus' Oedipodea trilogy, Seven Against Thebes is the only one of the three plays that has survived intact to this day. Prior to his birth, his father, King Laius, is foretold by an oracle that his son will one day kill him. ADRASTUS, son of Talaus, king of Argos, had five children, of which two, Argia and Deipyle, were daughters. In this case, you could leave out Mecisteus and Adrastus (eg. In this, the only extant tragedy from Aeschylus' trilogy about the House of Oedipus, Thebes is under siege from Polynices, a former prince of Thebes. With the war at a stalemate, Eteocles, the last hope of Thebes, fights his brother at gate seven where both are killed. If you have bookmarks or links to our site on your blog or website, please update them. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. The chorus leader is concerned and frightened: Our city groans from its foundation, we're surrounded. The play tells the story of the conflict between Eteocles and Polynices, sons of Oedipus, who fought over the throne of Thebes. During their assault on the city’s seven gates, Capaneus was struck by Zeus’s lightning bolt; Amphiaraus was swallowed up by the earth; Polyneices and Eteocles killed each other, fulfilling Oedipus’s curse; and the others were killed by the guards at Thebes. Aeschylus I: The Persians, The Seven Against Thebes, The Suppliant Maidens, Prometheus Bound (The Complete Greek Tragedies) Aeschylus's influence would live long after him, even having a profound effect on his fellow tragedians. Antigone. Oedipus' curse . AESCHYLUS, SEVEN AGAINST THEBES AESCHYLUS was a Greek tragedian who flourished in Athens in the early C5th B.C. As evident with his most famous work Oresteia, Aeschylus may well have been the only tragedian to treat his trilogies as a single drama. However, the traitor Polynices must be cast out unburied. Revised by Gregory Nagy . Eteocles tries to console him, telling him that it is not for him to worry and, again, asks him not to speak of what he hears to the city. The city is saved, but of the royal pair the ground has drunk the blood shed each by each. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. Learn More. The chorus leader remains fearful, adding that he will not be a slave. License. (81). This practice is evident in Seven Against Thebes where he makes a number of references to events from the first two plays. Classicist Edith Hamilton in her The Greek Way said he was the first poet to grasp the “bewildering strangeness of life” (182). After Born. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2021) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position: During the course of the action-packed play, seven would-be usurpers storm the city's gates in a series of brutal attacks. Hide browse bar Your current position in the text is marked in blue. Od. Based on the well-known ancient Greek myth surrounding King Oedipus of Thebes, Seven Against Thebes centers on this rivalry between Eteocles and Polynices, the two sons of Oedipus, fulfilling the curse of their father, never being able to settle their dispute and, in the end, falling by each other's hand. I’d like to tell you about my new theory of tragedy called “risk theatre.” In risk theatre, risk is the dramatic fulcrum of the action. Seven against Thebes Getty Villa 92.AE.86.jpg. It is obvious that Polynices and his fellow Argives are gathered outside the walls of Thebes preparing for battle. References to Seven Against Thebes appear in both Aristophanes' Frogs and Euripides' Phoenician Women. Donald has taught Ancient, Medieval and U.S. History at Lincoln College (Normal, Illinois)and has always been and will always be a student of history, ever since learning about Alexander the Great. The Seven Against Thebes is the third part of Aeschylus’ trilogy about Thebes. He speaks to them in a tone of comfort. The Seven is the third play of trilogy, a … ― Aeschylus, The Seven Against Thebes. Seven Against Thebes, the story of the conflict between Eteocles and Polyneices, the sons of Oedipus, won Aeschylus a first prize at its initial performance. At the seventh gate is his brother, Polynices. By Aeschylus . (108). The Seven Against Thebes Questions and Answers. Last modified May 25, 2018. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University and Michigan State University and University of Missouri. Other authors count Adrastus as one of the Seven and omit Hippomedon or Polyneices. The war of the SEVEN AGAINST THEBES was an Argive intervention in a Theban conflict. The Seven Against Thebes ... has been added to your Cart Add to Cart. A proud Athenian, he fought against the Persians at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE where his brother was killed. He is eager to pass knowledge on to his students. 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