Epigoni
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This is an article about the Greek myth. For the play by Sophocles, see The Progeny.
In Greek mythology, Epigoni (Greek Epigonoi, meaning "offspring") are the sons of the Argive heroes who had fought and been killed in the first Theban war. Polynices and six allies (the Seven Against Thebes) attacked Thebes because Polynices' brother, Eteocles, refused to give up the throne as promised. The second Theban war, also called the war of the Epigoni, occurred ten years later, when the Epigoni, wishing to avenge the death of their fathers, attacked Thebes.
According to Apollodorus,Template:Rf they were:
- Aegialeus, son of Adrastus
- Alcmaeon, son of Amphiaraus
- Amphilochus, son of Amphiaraus
- Diomedes, son of Tydeus
- Euryalus, son of Mecisteus
- Promachus, son of Parthenopaeus
- Sthenelus son of Capaneus
- Thersander son of Polynices
To this list, PausaniasTemplate:Rf also adds:
- Polydorus son of Hippomedon
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The war
Both Apollodorus and Pausanias tell the story of the war of the Epigoni, although their accounts differ in several respects. According to Apollodorus, the Delphic oracle had promised victory if Alcmaeon was chosen their leader, and so he was.Template:Rf Aegialeus was killed by Laodamas, son of Eteocles, but Acmaeon killed Laodamas.Template:Rf The Thebans were defeated and, by the counsel of the seer Teiresias, fled their city. However, Pausanias says that Thersander was their leader,Template:Rf that Laodamas fled Thebes with the rest of the Thebans,Template:Rf and that Thersander became king of Thebes.Template:Rf
In art
There were statues of the Epigoni at ArgosTemplate:Rf and Delphi.Template:Rf
The war of the Epigoni was the subject of an epic poem, which some had attributed to Homer.Template:Rf
References
- Apollodorus, The Library, (Loeb Classical Library, No. 121, Books I-III), English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, Harvard University Press (1921), ISBN 0674991354 (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Apollod.+toc)
- Herodotus, The Histories, (Loeb Classical Library, No. 118, Books Iii-IV), English Translation by A. D. Godley, Harvard University Press (1920), ISBN 067499131 (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Hdt.+toc)
- Pausanias, Description of Greece, (Loeb Classical Library, Arcadia, Boeotia, Phocis and Ozolian Locri; Books VIII-X), English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., Harvard University Press (1918), ISBN 0674993284 (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Paus.+toc)
Notes
Template:Ent Apollodorus 3.7.2 (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Apollod.+3.7.2) Template:Ent Pausanias 2.20.5 (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Paus.+2.20.5) Template:Ent Apollodorus 3.7.2 (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Apollod.+3.7.2) Template:Ent Apollodorus 3.7.3 (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Apollod.+3.7.3) Template:Ent Pausanias 7.3.1 (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Paus.+7.3.1), 9.9.4 (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Paus.+9.9.4) Template:Ent Pausanias 9.5.13 (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Paus.+9.5.13), 9.9.5 (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Paus.+9.9.5) Template:Ent Pausanias 9.5.14 (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Paus.+9.5.14) Template:Ent Pausanias 2.20.5 (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Paus.+2.20.5) Template:Ent Pausanias 10.10.4 (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Paus.+10.10.4) Template:Ent Pausanias 9.9.5 (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Paus.+9.9.5), Herodotus 4.32.1 (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Hdt.+4.32.1)fr:Épigones it:Epigoni nl:Epigonoi ja:エピゴノイ