effulgentpoet:mythology aesthetics ANTIGONEIn Greek mythology, Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus a
effulgentpoet:mythology aesthetics ANTIGONEIn Greek mythology, Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus and his mother Jocasta. Antigone attempts to secure a respectable burial for her brother Polynices. Oedipus’s sons, Eteocles and Polynices, had shared the rule jointly until they quarrelled, and Eteocles expelled his brother. The two brothers agreed to alternate rule each year, but Eteocles decided not to share power with his brother after his tenure expired. Polynices left the kingdom, gathered an army and attacked the city of Thebes in a conflict called the Seven Against Thebes. Both brothers were killed in the battle. King Creon, who has ascended to the throne of Thebes after the death of the brothers, decrees that Polynices is not to be buried or even mourned, on pain of death by stoning. Antigone defies the order, but is caught. Antigone is brought before Creon, and states that she knew Creon’s law regarding no mourning for Polynices but chose to break it, expounding upon the superiority of ‘divine law’ to that made by man. She puts the will of the gods ahead of man-made laws. Antigone is locked in a tomb on Creon’s orders. Although Creon has a change of heart and heads to the tomb to release Antigone, Antigone has hanged herself in the tomb. X -- source link
#antigone#sophocles