Background Information (page 8)
Greek Drama--Introduction--Antigone's Return to Thebes
Antigone by Frederic Leighton (1882)
http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Mythology/AntigoneFredericLeighton.html
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| Antigone returned to Thebes, where her two brothers had agreed to rule in alternate years. Eteocles’ turn came first, but when it ended, he refused to give up his throne to Polyneices. Polyneices fled to the city of Argos, where he raised an army and attacked the seven gates of Thebes. The Thebans repulsed each assault, but in the course of the battle, Eteocles and Polyneices killed each other. |
Creon then became king of Thebes and gave Eteocles, his ally, a hero’s burial. Creon considered Polyneices a traitor, so he decreed that his body be left unburied, to rot in the sun outside the city gates. To the Greeks, this was a terrible punishment: Their holiest laws demanded that certain burial rites be performed, or else the soul of the dead person would be condemned to eternal unrest.
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| Now, this decree by Creon is the basis of Creon's conflict with the strong-willed Antigone. As you will see, she belives that God's laws must be obeyed, whatever the consequences. |
| http://www.darksites.com/souls/goth/chastel/Oedipus.html |
 When you're confident that you understand the background information on Antigone, go to the Assessments button in Blackboard and complete the Good luck! Submit score on the |
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