CHAPTER XIV.

LEGENDS OF THEBES.

Abundant legends of Thêbes.—Amphiôn and Zethus, Homeric founders of Kadmus and Bœôtus—both distinct legends.—Thêbes.—How Thêbes was founded by Kadmus.—Five primitive families at Thêbes called Sparti.—The four daughters of Kadmus: 1. Inô; 2. Semelê; 3. Autonoê and her son Actæôn; 4. Agavê and her son Pentheus.—He resists the god Dionysus—his miserable end.—Labdakus, Antiopê, Amphiôn, and Zêthus.—Laius—Œdipus—Legendary celebrity of Œdipus and his family.—The Sphinx.—Eteoklês and Polynikês.—Old epic poems on the sieges of Thêbes. 256-269

SIEGES OF THEBES.

Curse pronounced by the devoted Oedipus upon his sons.—Novelties introduced by Sophoklês.—Death of Oedipus—quarrel of Eteoklês and Polynikês for the sceptre.—Polynikês retires to Argos—aid given to him by Adrastus.—Amphiaräus and Eriphylê.—Seven chiefs of the army against Thêbes.—Defeat of the Thêbans in the field—heroic devotion of Menœkus.—Single combat of Eteoklês and Polynikês, in which both perish.—Repulse and destruction of the Argeian chiefs—all except Adrastus—Amphiaräus is swallowed up in the earth.—Kreôn, king of Thêbes, forbids the burial of Polynikês and the other fallen Argeian chiefs.—Devotion and death of Antigonê.—The Athenians interfere to procure the interment of the fallen chiefs.—Second siege of Thêbes by Adrastus with the Epigoni, or sons of those slain in the first.—Victory of the Epigoni—capture of Thêbes.—Worship of Adrastus at Sikyôn—how abrogated by Kleisthenês.—Alkmæôn—his matricide and punishment.—Fatal necklace of Eriphylê. 269-284