Adrastus
Also known as: Adrastos · Family: Argos · Role: king · First appears: Aeschylus, The Seven Who Fought Against Thebes — Scene 1
Adrastus, king of Argos, became connected to Polynices when Polynices married Adrastus’ daughter and raised an allied army to attack Thebes: “So Polyneikes went to Argos and married the daughter of Adrastos the king of that country, and gathered together a great army under six great captains, himself going as the seventh, and led it against Thebes.” In another account, Polynices and Tydeus married Adrastus’ two daughters after “Apollo gave a certain oracle to Adrastus.”
His alliance with Polynices supported Polynices’ ambitions beyond Thebes, while his ties to Tydeus and Amphiaraos were associated with counsels that led Adrastus into troubles. Menoeceus stood against him and the Argives, bringing a bitter return of death, while Agamemnon was his friend.
Relationship record
Life events
- Polyneikes married Adrastos' daughter and gathered an army to attack Thebes.(Aeschylus, The Seven Who Fought Against Thebes — Scene 1 · 📍 Argos)
- With: Polynices
- “So Polyneikes went to Argos and married the daughter of Adrastos the king of that country, and gathered together a great army under six great captains, himself going as the seventh, and led it against Thebes.”
- Polynices marries Adrastus' child and thereby raises an allied army.(Sophocles, Oedipus At Colonos — Scene 7 · 📍 Dorian Argolis)
- With: Polynices
- “For when I had come to Dorian Argolis, I raised, through marriage with Adrastus' child, An army bound in friendly league with me”
- Adrastus married his two daughters to Polynices and Tydeus.(Euripides, The Phœnician Virgins — Scene 2 · 📍 Argos)
Aeschylus, The Seven Who Fought Against Thebes — Scene 1
- younger kin: Polynices (Adrastos is Polyneikes' father-in-law.) “So Polyneikes went to Argos and married the daughter of Adrastos the king of that country, and gathered together a great army under six great captains, himself going as the seventh, and led it against Thebes.”
Aeschylus, The Seven Who Fought Against Thebes — Scene 4
- with Tydeus (Tydeus's counsels are said to have led Adrastos into the present troubles.) “'Erinnys' sumpnour,' 'murder's minister,' Whose counsels led Adrastos to these ills.”
- mentor: Amphiaraos “Erinnys' sumpnour,' 'murder's minister,' Whose counsels led Adrastos to these ills.”
Euripides, The Phœnician Virgins — Scene 1
- younger kin: Polynices “but he having come as an exile to Argos, married the daughter of the king Adrastus;”
Euripides, The Phœnician Virgins — Scene 2
- mentor: Apollo (Apollo gives Adrastus an oracle directing the marriage arrangement.) “Apollo gave a certain oracle to Adrastus. JOC. What is this thou hast mentioned? I am unable to discover. POL. To unite his daughters in marriage with a boar and lion.”
- younger kin: Polynices (Adrastus gives one of his daughters in marriage to Polynices, making him Polynices's father-in-law.) “And gave in marriage to us two his two virgin daughters.”
- younger kin: Tydeus (Adrastus gives one of his daughters in marriage to Tydeus, making him Tydeus's father-in-law.) “And gave in marriage to us two his two virgin daughters.”
Euripides, The Phœnician Virgins — Scene 3
- younger kin: Polynices “Adrastus swore this oath to his two sons-in-law, that he would replace both in their own country, but me first.”
Euripides, The Phœnician Virgins — Scene 4
- with Polynices (political allies) “he aspires to higher thoughts than Thebes, having trusted in his alliance with Adrastus and his army”
Euripides, The Phœnician Virgins — Scene 5
- enemies with Menoeceus “And he will cause a bitter return to Adrastus and the Argives, casting back death over their eyes, and Thebes will he make illustrious.”
Euripides, The Phœnician Virgins — Scene 7
- definitional with Polynices
Euripides, Iphigenia In Aulis — Scene 2
- friends with Agamemnon “And with him was Adrastus, as friend with friend”
⭐ Character constellation map → · 📖 Read the original → · 🗂 Character index → · 🕰 Chronicle → · 📍 Places →
Extracted from the original text of Greek Tragedy. Made with Rho MD.