Analysis of Aeschylus’s Tragedy Seven Against Thebes

The War of the Seven on Thebes is a tragedy by Aeschylus that concerns seven warlords from Greek mythology who were chosen by Adrastus, king of Argos, to lead an army in order to restore Oedipus’ son Polyneices to the throne of Thebes.

Adrastus, though leader of the expedition, is not counted among the seven who were Polyneices, Tydas, Amphiaraus, Capaneus, Parthenopaeus, Hippomedon and Adrastus, or Eteoclus, when Adrastus is not counted. The campaign ended in failure and all but Adrastus were killed.

When Oedipus was found guilty of murder and incest, he was forced to abdicate. Thus he who had unwittingly killed his father and slept with his mother ended up deprived of the throne, tarnished his reputation, and despised by his sons, who isolated him, considering him a family disgrace. Oedipus in retaliation cursed his sons Polyneices and Eteocles, never to settle for who would become king of Thebes.

To avoid their father’s curse, Polyneices and Eteocles initially agreed that they would rule alternately for one year. But this agreement was kept, and while Oedipus lived, Polyneices raised an army to campaign against his younger brother Eteocles, who seized power and, refusing to share the throne, exiled him.

When Polyneices met the exiled Oedipus, asking for his support (according to a prophecy that he who allied with Oedipus would win) he received a new curse from his father, who cursed them to kill each other and never rule.
Betrayed and exiled by his brother, Polyneices took with him the mantle and necklace of Harmony, a treasure of Thebes, and went to Argos. Arriving at night at the king’s palace, he met another exile, Tydeus, who had fled from Calydon, and engaged in a quarrel with him, waking the king, who came out and separated them.

Some affirm that he compared them to wild beasts because they fought over a bed. Others say that when he later examined the boar and lion on their shields, he remembered the words of a diviner who had told him to pair his daughters in marriage with a boar and a lion. And faithfully interpreting the words of the seer, he married the two exiles to his daughters, promising to bring them both back to their homeland, beginning with Polyneices. Thus the Theban conflict turned into a rivalry between kingdoms.

As always there are those who find reason to intervene in what they feel concerns them and those who are unwilling to engage in what they feel is none of their business. Thus, on the subject of intervention in Thebes, the opinions of the Argives were as divided as Argos itself, since at that time there were three kingdoms in Argos and the kings were Adrastus, Amphiaraos and Iphis.

And while Adrastus had already promised the exiles to declare war, Amphiaraus, who was a seer and knew that the campaign against Thebes would fail, refused to join. But as he who is in disorder at home is weaker, Amphiaraus was forced to join the coalition, betrayed by his own wife Eriphyle, who was bribed by the war-supporting faction.

That Amphiaraus was not only influenced by his peaceful nature is shown by the fact that, on leaving for Thebes, he instructed his sons to kill their mother and march against Thebes as soon as they grew up.

In this way the coalition that marched against the city of the Seven Gates was formed. The acropolis of ancient Thebes was called Kadmeia and was built on seven hills (heptalofi). Kadmeia was surrounded by a fortification wall. There was also a second wall that surrounded the lower city. In the wall of Cadmeia there were seven gates: the Electres, the Homoloides, the Proitides, the Ogyi or Boraia, the Niists, the Hypsistas and the Ogaias. For this reason, Thebes was given the nickname Eptapylis. From these, the Electres have been identified, from where the road to Athens started and part of the Mycenaean wall, at the height where the Proitides Pyles were in classical times. The remaining gates are placed based on the exits of the city to various parts of Boeotia.

So while Eteocles sat on his precarious throne in Thebes and was considered a man who broke his promises because of his ambition for power, his brother Polyneices, who raised an army to defend his rights, was now suspected of destroying his homeland .

As the brothers were unable to reconcile, the army of Argos marched against Thebes. The army of the Seven first arrived at Nemea where they sought water. King of Nemea was then Lycurgus, who descended from Deucalion.

Lycurgus, called by some the Wolf, was the father of Ophelites who was fostered by Hypsipyli who was queen of Lemnos, but was exiled and sold as a slave because she secretly rescued her father when the women of Lemnos decided to kill the husbands and all men because they neglected them.

When the Argonauts arrived at Lemnos, Jason fell in love with her and had children with her. One of them, Eunice, was later crowned king of Lemnos and became famous when he sent ships from the island with cargoes of wine for the Achaeans during the Trojan War. When the Seven came to Nemea in search of water.

Hypsipyle showed them the way to a spring, leaving behind the little Opheltes, who was killed by a reptile or, according to others, devoured by a dragon, while there was an oracle which said that the child would not he had to step on the ground before he learned to walk.
In memory of the infant the Seven instituted the Nemean games (Apollodorus. III, 6-4). Lycurgus wanted to avenge Hypsipyli for the death of his son but she was saved by Adrastus, the leader of the Argives.

After the celebration of the Nemean games in honor of Opheltes, the army came to Kythairon where Tydeus was sent as ambassador to Thebes to tell Eteocles to cede the kingdom to Polyneices as they had agreed.

The embassy being of no effect, the army approached the walls of Thebes, and each chief lined up opposite each of the seven gates, with the army behind them. Now, when crisis blurs in the face of trouble, some believe that resorting to divination can help them see more clearly, and so did Eteocles and his staff, who decided to listen to what the famous seer Tiresias had to say. who believed that the Thebans would be victorious if Menochaeus, son of Creon, sacrificed himself voluntarily. This was the reason why Menochaeus, who believed in soothsayers, killed himself in front of the gates.

As the battle was deadly, the armies decided to duel the brothers and in the battle Polyneices and Eteocles killed each other, thus fulfilling Oedipus’ curse.

During the fight Tydeus killed the Theban Melanippus, but was mortally wounded by him in the abdomen. As Tydeus lay almost dead, Athena approached with a medicine she had taken from Zeus, with which she intended to make him immortal.

But then Amphiaraus cut off the head of Melanippus and gave it to Tydeus, who opened it and swallowed the brains. So when Athena saw this disgusting scene, she refused the privilege.

A little later, when Amphiaraus was about to be killed, Zeus split the earth with a thunderbolt and Amphiaraus disappeared, along with the chariot and the charioteer.

Some believe that the War of the Seven was the first in Greece to force an army to campaign outside the region, since until then wars had only been fought between neighboring states. But the Argives marched from the Peloponnese into Boeotia, gathering allies from Arcadia and Messenia, while the Thebans were aided by mercenaries from Phocis and elsewhere.

It is said that after the first encounter in open ground, the Thebans, being worn down, retired to their fortifications. Since the Argives, though they attacked furiously, could not properly besiege the walls, and many of them were killed by arrows fired by the Thebans, who then came out and defeated the weakened army.

All the leaders died except Adrastus, but the defeat of the Seven did not end Thebes’ woes. Creon came to power after the death of Eteocles and when he forbade the burial of dead enemies, he provoked the intervention of the Athenians who campaigned led by Theseus who forced him to continue the burials. But Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus, who resisted Creon’s unholy decree and secretly buried her brother Polyneices, was found and buried alive. Ten years after these events, the sons of the Seven, called Epigones, marched victoriously against Thebes.

Historical and Mythological Context

The story of “Seven Against Thebes” is set against the backdrop of the Theban Cycle, a series of myths involving the city of Thebes and its royal lineage. The play specifically focuses on the aftermath of Oedipus’s curse upon his sons, Eteocles and Polynices, who are doomed to fight to the death for the throne of Thebes. This narrative serves as a continuation of the tragic events set in motion by the sins of their father, Oedipus, whose own story of patricide and incest cast a long shadow over his descendants.

The historical context of the play’s production is significant as well. Performed in the early 5th century BC, “Seven Against Thebes” came at a time when Athens was emerging as a powerful city-state, fresh from victories against the Persian Empire. Themes of civic duty, leadership, and the defense of the polis would have resonated strongly with contemporary Athenian audiences.

Structure and Thematic Elements

The structure of “Seven Against Thebes” follows the traditional format of Greek tragedy, consisting of a prologue, parodos, episodes, stasima, and exodus. The play is notably direct in its narrative, focusing intensely on the impending siege of Thebes and the preparations of its defenders. The tension builds as each of the seven enemy leaders, including Polynices, is assigned to attack one of Thebes’s seven gates, with Eteocles assigning his commanders to defend each gate.

One of the central themes of the play is the inescapability of fate. The curse of Oedipus hangs heavily over the proceedings, with characters often expressing a sense of inevitability about the coming conflict. This theme is reinforced by the chorus, composed of Theban women, who lament the city’s fate and the destructive legacy of Oedipus.

The conflict between Eteocles and Polynices is also a focal point, embodying the tragic consequences of familial discord and the destructive nature of civil strife. Their mutual animosity and desire for power ultimately lead to their doom, fulfilling the prophecy that they would die by each other’s hands. This fratricidal conflict serves as a powerful metaphor for the broader societal conflicts that can arise from personal vendettas and unchecked ambition.

Character Dynamics and Symbolism

Eteocles, as the primary protagonist, is portrayed as a determined but ultimately tragic figure. His sense of duty to defend Thebes is complicated by his tyrannical tendencies and his willingness to uphold the curse placed upon his family. His interactions with the chorus and other characters reveal his inner turmoil and the heavy burden of leadership.

Polynices, though less directly portrayed in the play, serves as a symbolic antagonist. His return with an army to claim his share of power highlights the themes of exile and the consequences of unjust rulership. The confrontation between the brothers is foreshadowed throughout the play, culminating in a tragic fulfillment of the oracle’s prophecy.

The play also utilizes rich symbolism, particularly in the descriptions of the enemy leaders and their shields. Each shield emblem represents the personal characteristics and intentions of the attackers, adding a layer of psychological insight to the narrative. This symbolic imagery enhances the dramatic tension and underscores the theme of fate.

Broader Significance and Impact

“Seven Against Thebes” holds a significant place in the canon of Greek tragedy, not only for its mythological narrative but also for its exploration of themes that are universal and enduring. The play’s emphasis on the inescapability of fate, the destructive nature of familial conflict, and the responsibilities of leadership continue to resonate with modern audiences.

Aeschylus’s portrayal of the Theban saga also influenced later playwrights, including Sophocles and Euripides, who would further explore the myths surrounding Oedipus and his descendants. The themes and dramatic techniques employed in “Seven Against Thebes” laid the groundwork for subsequent developments in Greek tragedy, highlighting Aeschylus’s role as a pioneering figure in the genre.