CLST 105 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Seven Against Thebes, Polynices, Labdacus
Oedipus and Antigone - next two weeks
Assignment 2 on connect due: Nov. 3rd, 5pm - comparing 2 greek sources
Final exam: Dec. 20 at 8:30am (place tba)
Local Myths
● Every Polis (city-state) had its own tales that described the history of those cities
● Founding, famous heroes, involvement in major events (Trojan war)
● Major mythological cities: Thebes, Athens, Mycenae
Thebes
● Cadmus and Europa are from north africa
● Zeus falls in love with Europa - he turns himself into a bull and carries her to Crete
● Europa becomes the mother of Minos
● Cadmus goes to the Delphic oracle to ask about his sister, but instead Apollo tells him to
follow a cow until it collapses and then to found a city there
● Cadmus has to kill a serpent to be able to found the city - teeth sowed, Autochthonous
people - people who were always from this place who have never left (they grew out of
the ground
● Harmonia is given to him as a wife
● H & C -> Polydorus, Agave, Ino, Semele
● The generation after them literally get torn to bits
● Lycos seizes power when Labdacus dies
● Niobe had many children and bragged they were better looking and better hunters than
artemis and apollo
● They kill her children in front of her and she cries so much she turns to stone
● Hubris - comparing yourself to the gods, go beyond what you are allowed to do
● Laius banished, marries Jocasta (or Epicaste), an oracle tells him not to have children
● He gets drunk and sleeps with his wife, Oedipus is born
● He goes to the oracle who gives him a literal prophecy - you will kill your dad and marry
your mum
● He leaves home bc he doesn’t want to do that, but he meets Laius and has a dispute,
ends up killing him
● Sphinx has a riddle, if you get it right, the sphinx will leave, if you get it wrong, the sphinx
will kill you
● He marries Jocasta and has 4 kids with her
● Jocasta kills herself and Oedipus rips his eyes out
The Seven Against Thebes
● When Eteocles and Polyneices split the kingdom, Eteocles refuses to hand over the
kingdom when his year is done
● Argos - 7 warriors assembled
● The brothers agree the war is over when they fight each other and kill each other
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Assignment 2 on connect due: nov. 3rd, 5pm - comparing 2 greek sources. Final exam: dec. 20 at 8:30am (place tba) Every polis (city-state) had its own tales that described the history of those cities. Founding, famous heroes, involvement in major events (trojan war) Cadmus and europa are from north africa. Zeus falls in love with europa - he turns himself into a bull and carries her to crete. Cadmus goes to the delphic oracle to ask about his sister, but instead apollo tells him to follow a cow until it collapses and then to found a city there. Cadmus has to kill a serpent to be able to found the city - teeth sowed, autochthonous people - people who were always from this place who have never left (they grew out of the ground. Harmonia is given to him as a wife. H & c -> polydorus, agave, ino, semele. The generation after them literally get torn to bits.
