Eteocles and Polyneices, the royal brothers, deceased.

BROTHERS SLAIN BY A BROTHER’S HAND

4 days ago

by Scott Robertson

Thebes NewsDesk Senior Reporter

THEBES - In what has surely been a most tragic ending to one of the darker episodes in our history, the war of Polyneices and Eteocles has come to and end a day or so ago with the royal brothers dead by each others hand.

Over a year ago, Polyneices was exiled after refusing to transition royal power over to his brother after the agreed upon one year term.  He soon returned with an army from Argos (captained by the “7” - famous captains) to wage war against his brother and our city.  Almost two days ago, the two met each other in single combat and, after an epic struggle, dealt each other the death blow simultaneously.  Almost immediately after, the Argive army withdrew, leaving the Theban battlefield littered with the ravages of war.

This end for the brothers is not surprising to some who have claimed that our late king, Oedipus, taking up refuge in a grove near Athens, has refused to give his dissenting sons the blessing they came seeking.  According to various reports, Oedipus instead cursed them.  Perhaps we are seeing a father’s curse in action.  Rumor has it Sophocles, that great Athenian playwright, is planning a new play (Oedipus at Colonus) to dramatize these very events.

Whatever the opinion of Eteocles and Polyneices in Thebes, it is difficult not to feel pity for the last men in the house of Oedipus.  Let’s hope the last women fair better.

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