Polynices

Family: Theban · Role: son of Oedipus · First appears: Apollodorus, Library 3.5

🌐 Also appears in: The Iliad (as Polynices) · The Metamorphoses of Ovid (as Polynices) · Greek Tragedy — The Same Myth, Three Voices (as Polynices)

Polynices, a Theban and son of Oedipus, was said to have been born either to Jocasta or to Eurygania, daughter of Hyperphas, along with Eteocles, Ismene, and Antigone. When Eteocles refused to yield the kingdom after a year—or, in another account, refused to yield it after ruling first—Polynices was banished from Thebes and went to Argos, taking the necklace and robe with him.

In Argos, Polynices married Argia, while Adrastus promised to restore him and Tydeus to their native lands. He went to Iphis to learn how Amphiaraus could be compelled to join a war against Thebes, then gave the necklace to Eriphyle, who persuaded Amphiaraus to march. At Thebes, Polynices and Eteocles fought a single combat for the kingdom and killed each other.

After Creon forbade burial for the Argive dead, Antigone secretly buried Polynices, but Creon discovered her and ordered her interred alive. Polynices was the father of Thersander.

Relationship record

Life events

• Eteocles refuses to yield the kingdom, and Polynices is banished from Thebes.(Apollodorus, Library 3.6 · 📍 Thebes)
  • With: Eteocles
  • “Some say that Polynices was the first to rule, and that after a year he handed over the kingdom to Eteocles; but some say that Eteocles was the first to rule, and would not hand over the kingdom. So, being banished from Thebes , Polynices came to Argos , taking with him the necklace and the robe.”
• Tydeus marries Deipyle, and Polynices marries Argia.(Apollodorus, Library 3.6)
  • With: Tydeus Deipyle Argia
  • “And Tydeus married Deipyle, and Polynices married Argia ; and Adrastus promised that he would restore them both to their native lands.”
• Eriphyle accepts Polynices' necklace and persuades Amphiaraus to join the war.(Apollodorus, Library 3.6)
  • With: Eriphyle Amphiaraus
  • “Accordingly, when war was to be made on Thebes , and the measure was advocated by Adrastus and opposed by Amphiaraus, Eriphyle accepted the necklace and persuaded him to march with Adrastus.”
• Eteocles and Polynices fight for the kingdom and kill each other.(Apollodorus, Library 3.6)
  • With: Eteocles
  • “Eteocles and Polynices, by the resolution of both armies, fought a single combat for the kingdom, and slew each other.”
• Creon forbids burial of the Argive dead and orders watchmen to enforce the decree.(Apollodorus, Library 3.7 · 📍 Thebes)
  • With: Creon
  • “Having succeeded to the kingdom of Thebes , Creon cast out the Argive dead unburied, issued a proclamation that none should bury them, and set watchmen.”
• Antigone secretly buries Polynices, and Creon orders her interred alive after discovering her.(Apollodorus, Library 3.7 · 📍 Thebes)
  • With: Antigone Creon
  • “But Antigone, one of the daughters of Oedipus, stole the body of Polynices, and secretly buried it, and having been detected by Creon himself, she was interred alive in the grave.”

Apollodorus, Library 3.5

• parent: Oedipus “and begat sons by her, Polynices and Eteocles, and daughters, Ismene and Antigone.”
• parent: Eurygania (Alternative genealogy.) “But some say the children were borne to him by Eurygania, daughter of Hyperphas.”
• parent: Jocasta “and begat sons by her, Polynices and Eteocles, and daughters, Ismene and Antigone.”

Apollodorus, Library 3.6

• rivals with Eteocles “And as many fell, Eteocles and Polynices, by the resolution of both armies, fought a single combat for the kingdom, and slew each other.”
• married with Argia “And Tydeus married Deipyle, and Polynices married Argia ;”
• with Eriphyle (Polynices gave Eriphyle a necklace to influence her decision.) “But Polynices gave her the necklace and begged her to persuade Amphiaraus to go to the war;”
• with Adrastus (Adrastus promised to restore Tydeus and Polynices to their native lands.) “And Tydeus married Deipyle, and Polynices married Argia ; and Adrastus promised that he would restore them both to their native lands.”
• with Iphis (Polynices sought Iphis's advice.) “Polynices went to Iphis, son of Alector, and begged to know how Amphiaraus could be compelled to go to the war.”

Apollodorus, Library 3.7

• with Antigone (interaction) “Antigone, one of the daughters of Oedipus, stole the body of Polynices, and secretly buried it”
• child: Thersander “Thersander, son of Polynices”

Apollodorus, Epitome 3

• parent: Thersander “among them Thersander, son of Polynices”

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Extracted from the original text of Greek Mythology. Made with Rho MD.