Epigoni
conceptThe sons of the Seven against Thebes who returned a generation later and successfully sacked the city their fathers died attacking.
The Myth
The fathers all died at Thebes — the sons went back and finished the job. The Epigoni campaign happened ten years after the original Seven's disastrous assault. Where the fathers had ignored prophecy and fallen to hubris, the sons followed oracular guidance: Alcmaeon led instead of Adrastus, and Tiresias predicted Theban defeat. Thebes fell. Tiresias himself died during the city's evacuation. The Epigoni myth established a powerful Greek pattern: the next generation completes what the first began. Thersander, son of Polynices, finally took the Theban throne his father died claiming. Sthenelus and Diomedes went on to fight at Troy.
Symbols
Fun Fact
The word epigone — meaning a less distinguished follower — comes from this myth, though the originals actually exceeded their fathers.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Seven Against Thebes (Detail)
conceptThe doomed military expedition of seven champions against the seven gates of Thebes, organised by...
Theban Cycle
conceptThe cycle of myths surrounding the cursed royal house of Thebes, from Cadmus's founding through...
Adrastus
heroAdrastus was the only survivor of the Seven Against Thebes — he escaped on his divine horse Arion...
Sthenelus of Argos
heroSon of Capaneus and charioteer of Diomedes at Troy, one of the Epigoni who avenged their fathers at...
Diomedes (Aristeia)
conceptThe extended battle sequence in Iliad Books 5-6 where Diomedes wounds both Aphrodite and Ares, the...
Diomedes
heroDiomedes was the only mortal in the Iliad to wound two Olympian gods in a single day.
Troy
placeThe legendary city in Asia Minor besieged by the Greeks for ten years in the Trojan War. Troy's...
Troy (Hisarlik)
placeHisarlik in Turkey is the archaeological site identified as Homer's Troy — multiple cities layered...
Alcmaeon
heroSon of Amphiaraus who killed his own mother Eriphyle on his father's orders and was driven mad by...
Polynices
heroPolynices was the son of Oedipus who raised an army of seven champions to take Thebes from his...
Thebes
placeThebes was the great city of Boeotia, founded by Cadmus who sowed dragon teeth, and the setting for...
Thebes (Boeotia)
placeThe city of Cadmus and Oedipus, setting of more Greek tragedies than any other place.