Necklace of Harmonia

A priceless necklace which was designed and crafted by the Smith of the Gods, Hephaistos (Hephaestus).

The legend of the Necklace of Harmonia goes back to the origins of the city of Thebes and its first king, Kadmus (Cadmus); when Kadmus married Harmonia, the daughter of Ares (god of War) and Aphrodite (goddess of Love), he gave her a necklace designed and crafted by Hephaistos.

The necklace was passed down through the generations and came into the possession of one of the sons of Oedipus, Polynikes (Polynices); after Oedipus was exiled from Thebes, Polynikes took refuge in Argos and assembled an army to attack Thebes so that he might depose his older brother, Eteokles (Eteocles) and claim the throne for himself.

In order to get the help of a warrior named Amphiaraus, Polynikes gave the Necklace of Harmonia to Amphiaraus’ wife, Eriphyle; Amphiaraus was a seer and knew that he would die if he marched against Thebes but he accepted his fate and joined forces with Polynikes; Amphiaraus did not die in battle but he was swallowed by the earth during the siege; because of the supernatural death of Amphiaraus, the Necklace of Harmonia was thought to be cursed.

The Necklace of Harmonia can be traced from Hephaistos to Eriphyle thusly: Hephaistos > Kadmus > Harmonia > Polydorus > Labdakos > Laius > Oedipus > Polynikes > Eriphyle.