PolynikesPolynices

The youngest son of king Oedipus and Iokaste (Jocasta) of the city of Thebes.

Oedipus was cursed to kill his father and marry his mother and the children of this profane union were also cursed; Polynikes was the son and brother of Oedipus.

After his father blinded himself and went into exile Oedipus’ eldest son, Eteokles (Eteocles) took control of the government of Thebes; Polynikes was also exiled so he took refuge in Argos with king Adrastus and married Adrastus’ daughter, Argeia.

Polynikes and six loyal friends formed armies and intended to reclaim the throne of Thebes; the seven armies were necessary because Thebes was known as the City of Seven Gates and thus one army would attack each gate; their effort was commonly known as the Seven Against Thebes.

Before the attack, Polynikes went to his exiled father and begged for his blessing but Oedipus cursed Polynikes and predicted that Polynikes and his brother, Eteokles, would both die without honor in the battle for the city; the attack on Thebes failed and Eteokles and Polynikes both died on each other’s spear.

After the battle, Polynikes’ uncle, Kreon (Creon), assumed the throne and gave Eteokles a noble burial but, as an act of petty revenge, refused to allow a proper burial for Polynikes; his body was left to the vultures and dogs until one of his sisters, Antigone, defied Kreon and covered her brother with a thin layer of dirt while his body still laid on the battlefield; his other sister was Ismene.

His name might literally mean: Poly = Many; Neikea = Grievances and also spelled Polyneikes or Polyneices.