Eteocles

Eteocles (Greek: Eteoklēs) is a figure in Greek mythology, the son of Oedipus and Jocasta, and the elder brother of Polynices. After Oedipus’s downfall, Thebes is ruled by Eteocles. The brothers agree to alternate the throne, each ruling for one year. When Eteocles’ term ends, he refuses to relinquish the throne, prompting Polynices to seek aid from outside Thebes.

Polynices gathers an army, often referred to as the Seven Against Thebes, and attacks the city. In the ensuing combat, Eteocles and Polynices kill one another. The exact manner of death varies by source, but both brothers die in the contest that decides Thebes’ fate. Creon, who becomes ruler of Thebes, decrees that Eteocles will be buried with honors while Polynices, deemed a traitor, is denied burial.

In Sophocles’s Antigone, these events provide the political and moral framework for the play: Antigone defies Creon to bury Polynices, and is punished for it. The story of Eteocles, like that of Polynices, is part of the larger Theban cycle that centers on prophecies, curses, and the downfall of the house of Oedipus.

Etymology of the name is usually traced to Greek roots meaning “true glory” or “true fame.” Eteocles appears primarily in Theban tragedy, especially in Sophocles’s Theban plays, where his clash with his brother helps drive the saga of Oedipus’s lineage.