2. • The third play in an Oedipus-
themed trilogy
• It concerns the battle between
an Argive army led by Polynices
and the Theban army led by
Eteocles and his supporters.
• The trilogy won the first prize at
the City Dionysia.
3. The Seven Argive warriors
1. Eteoclus - attacked the Neistan gates.
2. Amphiaraus – seer, killed Melanippus, swallowed with chariot in the
ground.
3. Capaneus – outstanding warrior but arrogant, cursed by Zeus.
4. Hippomedon - very large and powerful. attacked the gate of Athena
Onca, but is killed by Ismarus.
5. Parthenopeus – Killed by Periclymenus, Amphidicus, or Asphodicus.
6. Polynices – Brother of Etheocles
7. Tydeus - The goddess Athena had planned to make him immortal but refused
after Tydeus in a rage devoured the brains of the defeated Melanippus. He was
the father of the Greek warrior Diomedes.
4. The Defenders of Thebes
1. Creon – Brother –in-law of Oedipus
2. Megareus - committed suicide to save Thebes
3. Poriclymenus - son of Poseidon and Chloris and would-be
murderer of Amphiaraus
4. Melanippus - defended the Proitid gate and whose brains
were eaten by Tydeus.
5. Polyphontes - Faced Capaneus at the Electran gates
6. Hyperbius
7. Actor - defenders of the Borraean Gate at Thebes
8. Lasthenes
5. Summary
• The drama has very little plot. The bulk of the play
describes each of the seven captains that lead the
Argive army against Thebes, as well as the devices
on their respective shields.
• When Oedipus stepped down as King of Thebes,
he gave the kingdom to his two sons, Eteocles
and Polynices, who agreed to rule Thebes in
alternate years.
• After the first year, Eteocles refuses to step down, As
a result, Polynices has raised an army (captained by
the Eponymous Seven) to take Thebes by force.
6. • Eteocles, in turn, announces that he will
send against each Argive attacker.
• When Polynices is revealed to be the last of
the seven captains, Eteocles resolves to meet
his brother in single combat, citing Oedipus'
curse that he and Polynices would divide
their kingdom with iron, and exits.
• Following a choral ode, a messenger enters,
announcing that Eteocles and Polynices have
killed each other in battle. Their bodies are
brought on stage, and the chorus mourns
them.
