Seven Against Thebes
The doomed military expedition of seven champions against the seven gates of Thebes, organised by Polynices to reclaim the throne from his brother Eteocles.
The Meaning of Seven Against Thebes
The Seven Against Thebes arose from the curse Oedipus placed on his sons Eteocles and Polynices when they showed him disrespect. The brothers agreed to alternate the kingship yearly, but Eteocles refused to yield after his first year. Polynices fled to Argos and married the daughter of King Adrastus. Adrastus assembled seven champions, one for each gate of Thebes: himself, Polynices, Tydeus, Capaneus, Amphiaraus, Hippomedon, and Parthenopaeus. Amphiaraus, a seer, knew the expedition was doomed but was compelled by his wife Eriphyle, bribed with the Necklace of Harmonia. Capaneus was struck by Zeus's thunderbolt for boasting he would take Thebes even against the gods. Tydeus forfeited Athena's gift of immortality by eating his enemy's brains. The brothers killed each other in single combat. Only Adrastus escaped, saved by his divine horse Arion, son of Poseidon.
Children
Epigoni (next generation)
Symbols
Fun Fact
Aeschylus's Seven Against Thebes (467 BC) was the world's first siege narrative, establishing conventions that run through every war story from the siege of Jerusalem to Helm's Deep in Lord of the Rings. The one-champion-per-gate structure — matching attackers against defenders in paired duels — invented the "battle lineup" narrative device used in everything from sports commentary to heist-movie team assembly scenes.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Seven Against Thebes
💭 conceptNarrative
The doomed military expedition of seven champions against the city of Thebes in the generation before the Trojan War
The Trojan War
💭 conceptWar, fate, heroism
A ten-year siege of Troy by a coalition of Greek kings, sparked by the abduction of Helen and shaped by the rivalries of the gods.
Theban Cycle
💭 conceptepic, dynasty
The cycle of myths surrounding the cursed royal house of Thebes, from Cadmus's founding through Oedipus's tragedy to the war of the Seven and their sons.
House of Pelops
💭 conceptDynasty, curse
The cursed royal dynasty of Mycenae descended from Pelops, encompassing the Trojan War generation
House of Oedipus
💭 conceptDynasty, fate
The doomed Theban royal line of Laius and Oedipus, destroyed by patricide, incest, and fraternal war
Theban Royal Family
💭 conceptDynasty, Thebes
The cursed ruling house of Thebes spanning from Cadmus through Oedipus to the fratricidal war of his sons
House of Atreus
💭 conceptNarrative
The cursed royal dynasty of Mycenae whose generations of bloodshed and vengeance form the darkest saga in Greek mythology
Fall of Troy
💭 conceptNarrative
The final destruction of the city of Troy through the stratagem of the wooden horse after ten years of siege
Twelve Labours of Heracles
💭 conceptNarrative
The twelve impossible tasks imposed upon Heracles as penance for killing his family in a divine madness
House of Cadmus
💭 conceptDynasty, Thebes
The royal dynasty of Thebes founded by the Phoenician prince Cadmus who sowed the dragon's teeth
Bellerophon and Chimera
💭 conceptNarrative
The hero's aerial battle against a fire-breathing monster while riding the winged horse Pegasus
The Twelve Labours
💭 conceptHeroism, endurance, redemption
Twelve impossible tasks imposed on Heracles by King Eurystheus as penance for killing his own family in a madness sent by Hera.