The Oedipal Curse and the Roots of Conflict

The story of Polynices and his doomed campaign against Thebes is inextricably tied to the tragic legacy of his father, Oedipus. The curse laid upon Oedipus’s sons—Polynices and Eteocles—by their blind, exiled father became the driving force behind one of Greek mythology’s most devastating wars. When Oedipus discovered his unwitting crimes of patricide and incest, his sons showed him no mercy, leaving him to wander in exile. In his fury, Oedipus prophesied that the brothers would “divide their inheritance with iron,” a grim foreshadowing of their fatal rivalry.

Polynices, exiled by Eteocles after their agreement to alternate ruling Thebes year by year collapsed, sought refuge in Argos. There, King Adrastus welcomed him, marrying him to his daughter Argia. Yet Polynices could not rest—his father’s curse and his brother’s betrayal festered in his mind. His desperation to reclaim Thebes set in motion the events that would lead to the legendary war of the Seven Against Thebes.

The Gathering of the Seven and the Fatal Debate

Polynices’ plea for military aid from Adrastus hinged on promises of shared spoils and righteous vengeance. However, the Argive leaders were divided. At a council of war, the seer Amphiaraus, gifted with foresight, delivered a chilling warning: by aiding Polynices, they would inherit Oedipus’s curse. “You are not fighting flesh and blood,” he declared, “but the dark power of a father’s wrath.” His words cast a pall over the assembly, but the warrior Tydeus, ever bold, dismissed omens in favor of action. “Let prophets trust signs,” he argued. “We trust our swords.”

The turning point came through treachery. Polynices, recalling his wife’s remark that Amphiaraus’s spouse, Eriphyle, coveted the Necklace of Harmonia—a divine heirloom of Thebes—bribed her with the priceless jewel. In exchange, she pressured her husband to join the campaign, sealing his fate. Amphiaraus, aware of his impending doom, left a grim command with his son Alcmaeon: “Avenge me when you are grown.”

The March to Thebes: Omens and Hubris

As the Seven marched forth, their shields bore boastful emblems—Polynices’ “Justice” leading him home, Tydeus’s torch threatening annihilation, and Capaneus’s defiance of the gods. Only Amphiaraus carried a blank shield, a silent protest against the doomed venture. The gods reinforced his warnings: Zeus sent rains to douse their sacrificial fires, and a sacrificed calf lacked a liver, the organ essential for divination. Yet pride overruled prudence.

A haunting interlude in Nemea deepened the tragedy. The army encountered Hypsipyle, former queen of Lemnos, enslaved as a nursemaid after her past misdeeds. She led them to water but left the infant Opheltes unattended; a serpent killed the child. The incident, later commemorated in the Nemean Games, foreshadowed greater losses to come.

The Siege and Its Aftermath: A Cycle of Blood

The assault on Thebes ended in catastrophe. The Seven faced staunch resistance, and one by one, they fell:
– Capaneus, struck by Zeus’s lightning for scaling the walls.
– Tydeus, denied Athena’s gift of immortality due to his savagery.
– Amphiaraus, swallowed by the earth, chariot and all—a living tomb.
– Polynices and Eteocles, fulfilling their curse by slaying each other in single combat.

Only Adrastus survived, fleeing on his divine horse Arion. Thebes’ victory was pyrrhic; the city mourned its dead, including Creon’s son Haemon and his betrothed Antigone, who defied orders to bury Polynices. Her defiance, a cornerstone of Greek tragedy, underscored the war’s futility.

Legacy: Myth as Moral Compass

The saga of the Seven Against Thebes became a cautionary tale about fate, pride, and the inescapability of divine will. Later poets, like Aeschylus, immortalized it in Seven Against Thebes, emphasizing the cyclical nature of violence. The curse persisted through generations, manifesting in the Epigoni (“the next generation”), who avenged their fathers in a second war.

Modern readers might see reflections of toxic ambition, the cost of vengeance, and the weight of ancestral sin. The Necklace of Harmonia, passed through hands like Eriphyle’s, became a symbol of cursed desire—echoing myths like Tolkien’s One Ring. Meanwhile, Antigone’s resistance resonates in discussions of civil disobedience and moral duty.

Conclusion: The Echoes of Thebes

The story of Polynices and the Seven is more than a myth; it is a meditation on the human condition. From Oedipus’s curse to Antigone’s defiance, it asks: Can we escape destiny? Are loyalty and justice at odds? As long as these questions endure, the shadows of Thebes will linger in our collective imagination.