Antigone, The Seven Against Thebes, The Calydonian Boar Hunt

CC 303/352 Intro to Classical Mythology - Fall 2009
Department of Classics, University of Texas at Austin, Prof. Lawrence Kim

Eriphyle, Polynices, Antigone, Tiresias, Creon
Meleager, Calydon, Althaea, Atalanta, Argos

1. Meleager and the Calydonian Boar Hunt
1. Like Argonautic Expedition: Group of Heroes
1. Jason, Theseus, Castor and Pollux
2. Fathers of Trojan War Heroes
• Peleus, Achilles' Dad
• Telamon, Ajax's Dad
3. Atalanta (see her other myth here)
   
2. Boar terrorizing Calydon
• Meleager's father, the king, neglected sacrifice to Artemis
• Artemis sends boar to ravage countryside as punishment
3. Atalanta draws first blood, Meleager lands the killing blow
• Too many heroes, no teamwork
• Some heroes offended at a woman's success
4. Tragic Aftermath
   
1. Meleager wins the boar's head as the prize of the hunt
2. In love with Atalanta, he gives the prize to her
• His two maternal uncles protest and disparage Atalanta
• He kills both uncles in a mad rage
3. His mother Althaea laments loss of her brothers
1. When Meleager was born, Fates decreed that he and the log burning in the fire would have the same lifespan
• Althaea saved the log and put it away for safety
2. Now, angry at her brothers' murder, she throws the log into the fire
• Meleager burns up inside and dies
• Althaea kills herself
  
2. The Seven Against Thebes
   1. Eteocles and POLYNICES: sons of OEDIPUS and JOCASTA
   • Oedipus, at Athens, curses his sons; they will kill each other
   • They rule in alternate years; Eteocles won't give up the throne
   2. Polynices withdraws to Argos, and its king Adrastus
      • Together they gather an army to take over Thebes
      • Adrastus' daughter, ERIPHYLE, married to the prophet Amphiaraus
      • Amphiaraus had sworn to listen to Eriphyle in any disagreement between him and Adrastus
      • Amphiaraus foresees doom and refuses to take part in the expedition
      • Polynices bribes Eriphyle to persuade Amphiaraus with the necklace of Harmonia
      • Polynices, Adrastus, Amphiaraus and four others (the Seven) march off to Thebes
      • Tydeus (Trojan War hero Diomedes' father)
      • Capaneus, Hippomedon, Parthenopaeus 
   3. The Attack of the Seven against Thebes
   • TIRESIAS: Thebes will win if Creon's son is sacrificed to Ares
   • Creon's son sacrifices himself voluntarily
   • Seven Theban Heroes defend the Seven gates of Thebes
   • The Seven Against Thebes each take on one of the Thebans
   • Eteocles and Polynices draw each other
   • Eteocles and Polynices slay each other
   • The Seven are defeated; only Adrastus escapes
     
3. Sophocles' Antigone
   1. The Cast:
   • CREON, ruler of Thebes; Antigone's Uncle
   • ANTIGONE and Ismene, daughters of Oedipus
   • Haemon, Creon's son, and Antigone's fiancée
1. The Plot
   1. Creon rules Thebes after Eteocles' death
   • Refuses to give Polynices proper burial
   • Anyone who tries to do so will be put to death
   2. Antigone defies the order and is sentenced to death
   • Haemon defends her, threatens suicide
   • Tiresias convinces Creon to reconsider
   • Too late: Antigone has hung herself
   3. Haemon commits suicide in front of Creon
   4. Creon's wife kills herself over her son's death

1. The Individual Against the State
2. The Family Against the Law
3. The Parthenos, the Maiden: Loyalty Against Reason

Return to Syllabus

1. Calydonian Boar Hunt. François Vase.
2. Calydonian Boar Hunt. Roman Sarcophagus. Musei Capitolini, Rome.
3. Meleager and Atalanta. Jacob Jordaens.
4. Antigone and Polynices. 
5. Polynices Bribing Eriphyle with the Necklace. Musée du Louvre, Paris.