Menoeceus (son of Creon)
Also known as: Menoeceus · Family: Thebes · Role: youth · First appears: Euripides, The Phœnician Virgins — Scene 1
At Thebes, Tiresias prophesies victory for the Thebans if Menoeceus gives himself up as a sacrifice to Mars. Creon refuses to sacrifice his son and urges him to flee, but Menoeceus rejects escape, deceives his father, and resolves to stab himself above the dragon’s lair to save the country.
In Scene 5, Menoeceus says he will “give liberty to the country” through his death. The prophecy also says he will bring death upon Adrastus and the Argives, making Thebes illustrious; before departing, he speaks of saluting Jocasta, whom he calls his sister.
Relationship record
Life events
- Tiresias prophesied Theban victory if Menoeceus sacrificed himself.(Euripides, The Phœnician Virgins — Scene 1 · 📍 Thebes)
- With: Tiresias
- “Now Tiresias prophesied that victory should be on the side of the Thebans, if Menœceus the son of Creon would give himself up to be sacrificed to Mars.”
- Menoeceus rejected escape and killed himself for the city.(Euripides, The Phœnician Virgins — Scene 1 · 📍 Thebes)
- With: Creon
- “Creon refused to give his son to the city, but the youth was willing, and, his father pointing out to him the means of flight and giving him money, he put himself to death.”
- Tiresias reveals that sacrificing Menoeceus is necessary to preserve the country.(Euripides, The Phœnician Virgins — Scene 5)
- Creon refuses to sacrifice Menoeceus and orders him to flee the country.(Euripides, The Phœnician Virgins — Scene 5)
- With: Creon
- “For never will I go to this degree of calamity, to expose my son a victim for the state. For all men live with an affection toward their children, nor would any give up his own child to die. Let no one praise me for the deed, and slay my children. But I myself, for I am arrived at a mature period of life, am ready to die to liberate my country. But haste, my son, before the whole city hears it, disregarding the intemperate oracles of prophets, fly as quickly as possible, having quitted this land.”
- Menoeceus deceives Creon, secretly choosing death rather than abandoning his country.(Euripides, The Phœnician Virgins — Scene 5)
- With: Creon
- “Ye females, how well removed I my father's fears, having deceived him with words, in order to gain my wishes; who sends me out of the way, depriving the city of its good fortune, and gives me up to cowardice.”
- Menoeceus resolves to stab himself above the dragon's lair and save the country.(Euripides, The Phœnician Virgins — Scene 5)
- “But I will depart, and standing on the summit of the battlements, stabbing myself over the dark deep lair of the dragon, where the prophet appointed, will give liberty to the country--the word has been spoken.”
Euripides, The Phœnician Virgins — Scene 1
- parent: Creon “if Menœceus the son of Creon would give himself up to be sacrificed to Mars.”
- mentor: Tiresias “Now Tiresias prophesied that victory should be on the side of the Thebans, if Menœceus the son of Creon would give himself up to be sacrificed to Mars.”
Euripides, The Phœnician Virgins — Scene 5
- parent: Creon “He that is my son will keep secret what ought to be kept secret.”
- enemies with Adrastus “And he will cause a bitter return to Adrastus and the Argives, casting back death over their eyes, and Thebes will he make illustrious.”
- elder kin: Jocasta (Jocasta is identified as Creon's sister, making her Menoeceus's aunt.) “Go then, for having proceeded to salute thy sister, whose breast I first sucked, Jocasta I mean, deprived of my mother, and reft from her, an orphan, I will depart and save my life.”
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Extracted from the original text of Greek Tragedy. Made with Rho MD.