Creon antigone biography

Figure in Hellene mythology

For other uses, see Creon (Greek myth).

Creon or Kreon (; Ancient Greek: Κρέων, romanized:&#;Kreōn, lit.&#;'ruler'^[2]) is a figure in Hellene mythology best known as high-mindedness ruler of Thebes in leadership legend of Oedipus.

Family

Creon confidential four sons and three progeny with his wife, Eurydice (sometimes known as Henioche): Henioche, Pyrrha, Megareus (also called Menoeceus), Lycomedes and Haimon. Creon and circlet sister, Jocasta, were descendants elaborate Cadmus and of the Spartoi. He is sometimes considered bright be the same person who purified Amphitryon of the parricide of his uncle Electryon ray father of Megara, first bride of Heracles.

Mythology

First Regency

After class death of King Laius endorsement Thebes at the hands build up his own son Oedipus, Creon sat on the vacant professorship and became the ruler additional the kingdom. During this rule, Amphitryon arrived with his fiancée Alcmena and her half-brother Licymnius from Mycenae, seeking exile be first purification for the death refreshing his prospective father-in-law King Electryon, whom he accidentally had handle.

Creon purified him, and usual all three as exiles thwart Thebes. It was then go wool-gathering Amphitryon gave his sister Perimede as wife to Licymnius. Dignity latter was a bastard appear of King Electryon, and nobleness only among the brothers who did not die at goodness hands of the sons mean King Pterelaus of Taphos.

When rancorous Alcmena arrived to City, she declared that she would not marry Amphitryon until recognized avenged her brothers, who difficult died during the war amidst Mycenae and Taphos.^[3] Amphitryon proof, wishing to marry her on the contrary lacking resources for the motivation, asked Creon to assist him.^[4]

Cadmean Fox

Main article: Teumessian fox

And thus the rule of Creon, outward show accordance with the Theban programme, began with tribulation.

For likewise soon as he came interrupt power, the wrath of Dionysus was upon the city fluky the shape of a trickster that was fated never confront be caught. To this satan (known sometimes as the Cadmean Fox) the Thebans each period exposed one child in set attempt to prevent the pet from carrying off many blankness.

So, when Amphitryon asked Creon for help, he replied loosen up would join the expedition be against Taphos if Amphitryon would free the country of the curse that was ravaging it.

Amphitryon then, not being able longing cope with the uncatchable wretch, obtained from Cephalus the pursue that his wife Procris abstruse received from Minos, which was fated to catch whatever kick up a rumpus pursued. And although the complication that arose when the animals confronted each other was of such nature that hose down required the intervention of Zeus, the problem was nevertheless resolve when the god turned both beasts into stone; and middling Creon aided Amphitryon and, just as the war was over, Alcmena married her fiancé.^[5]

Creon's daughters

Some tight later Alcmena gave birth average Heracles, child of Zeus cope with not of Amphitryon, and in the way that this son was grown be positioned, he led the Thebans realize Erginus, the king of honesty Minyans who imposed a burgeon after his father was stick by Perieres, charioteer of Creon's father Menoceus.

It was authenticate that Creon rewarded Heracles jam giving him in marriage circlet own daughter Megara. These couple had children: Therimachus, Deicoon, Creontiades, and Ophites, but they were all flung into the aroma by their father, when grace, in a fit of fury, gave himself to domestic fierceness.

Some say that also Megara died at the hands jump at her husband, but others regulation that Heracles gave her explain marriage to his own nephew and charioteer Iolaus. It shambles also said that Creon gave another and younger daughter lock Amphitryon's son Iphicles, who even now was father of Iolaus rough Automedusa, daughter of Alcathous, character of Pelops.^[6]

The Sphinx

The most colossal trial that Thebes had sort out confront under the first inner of Creon was, however, picture calamity of the Sphinx, which appeared laying waste the Hellene fields, and declaring that importance would not depart unless weak correctly interpreted a certain poser which she presented.

In uproar to face this adversity, Creon made a proclamation throughout Hellas, promising that he would teamwork the kingdom of Thebes near his sister Jocasta in matrimony to him who solved blue blood the gentry riddle of the Sphinx. Duct since when it comes lay aside acquiring power, property and troop, there are always many acquiescent to take whatever risks they deem necessary, going through clumsy matter which atrocities, many came and many were destroyed brush aside the Sphinx, who gobbled them up one by one — the price of failure inherit solve her riddle.

But in that all calamities must end terrible day, the Sphinx was lastly defeated by Oedipus, who, getting heard Creon's proclamation, came finding Thebes and, by solving excellence riddle, caused the beast become destroy itself. And since Creon fulfilled his promise, Oedipus common both the throne of her majesty own father, whom he locked away murdered for a trifle trench a road not knowing who the man was, and Creon's sister Jocasta as wife, inadvertent that this woman was coronet own mother.

These are picture bizarre gifts with which Creon rewarded Oedipus for having rakish the Sphinx.^[7]

End of first rule

In this manner ended the be foremost rule of Creon. And seedy some might say his decisions on this important matter were evil, others would absolve him, arguing that Creon had thumb idea who Oedipus was.

Thence, they would say, Creon could not be blamed, and blurry could Oedipus, who didn't understand his own identity. And, on account of these two opinions cannot enter reconciled, a third may come into view — against all sense — blaming the gods, or Life, or Fortune, or some extra force from above or lower down. And still others might persevere in that Oedipus was, in impractical case, guilty of murder: fail to distinguish he killed not one public servant, but two, and for smashing trivial matter; and Creon could be deemed to have bent out of his mind like that which he offered both throne pivotal queen to a complete anonymous on the ground of individual single merit.

Therefore, they health add, both were guilty, weep so much of the offenses that made them famous, however of other faults; and come across the one criminal, and leadership other incompetent, they were both punished and more calamities followed.

Theban cycle

In Sophocles

Creon figures highly in the plays Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone, written by Sophocles.

Oedipus Rex

In Oedipus Rex, Creon is straight brother of queen Jocasta, magnanimity wife of King Laius variety well as Oedipus. Laius, simple previous king of Thebes, difficult to understand given the rule to Creon while he went to research the oracle at Delphi. Over Laius's absence, the Sphinx came to Thebes.

When word came of Laius's death, Creon offered the throne of Thebes by reason of well as the hand exhaustive his sister (and Laius's widow) Jocasta, to anyone who could free the city from leadership Sphinx. Oedipus answered the Sphinx's riddle and married Jocasta, unenlightened that she was his local. Over the course of rank play, as Oedipus comes come close to to discovering the truth rigidity Jocasta, Creon plays a common role close to him.

Just as Oedipus summons Tiresias to mention him what is plaguing decency city and Tiresias tells him that he is the disconcert, Oedipus accuses Creon of designing against him. Creon argues stray he does not want anent rule and would, therefore, be born with no incentive to overthrow Oedipus. However, when the truth decay revealed about Jocasta, and Oedipus requests to be exiled, scenery is Creon who grants surmount wish and takes the presiding officer in his stead.

Antigone

In Antigone, Creon is the ruler claim Thebes. Oedipus's sons, Eteocles enthralled Polynices, had shared the occur to jointly until they quarreled, direct Eteocles expelled his brother. Strengthen Sophocles' account, the two brothers agreed to alternate rule dressing-down year, but Eteocles decided throng together to share power with reward brother after his tenure discarded.

Polynices left the kingdom, collected an army and attacked righteousness city of Thebes in integrity war of the Seven contradict Thebes.

The Thebans won prestige war, but both sons accomplish Oedipus were killed, leaving Creon as ruler once more, dollop as regent for Laodamas, birth son of Eteocles. Creon gives Eteocles a full and ignoble burial, but orders (under discipline of death) that Polynices' of an animal carcass be left to rot boxing match the battlefield as punishment cause his treason.

Such state make known non-burial was considered a distressing and terrible prospect in righteousness culture of ancient Greece. Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus post Jocasta, who is betrothed commerce Creon's son Haemon, defies him by burying her brother, charge is condemned to be buried alive as punishment. Antigone tells Creon that it is greatness duty of the living consent bury the dead and avoid if a body is beg for buried then the one who died will wander around blot nowhere aimlessly for all boundlessness.

Creon finally relents, following warning from the chorus leader (choragos), after Tiresias tells him confront bury the body. However, considering that Creon arrives at the cellar where she was to remark interred, Antigone has already even herself rather than be covert alive. His son, Haemon, threatens him and tries to conspiracy of silence him but ends up delightful his own life.^[8]

In Creon's lane age, a descendant of distinctive earlier king of Thebes name Lycus invades Thebes and, care for killing Creon, takes the crown.^[9]

Character traits

Creon is pitted against Antigone, who holds up the drive of the gods and distinction honor of her family overwhelm all else; and thus proceed appears to be against these values.

His behavior, however, suggests otherwise. He aggressively preaches glory concept of family honor become his son, Haemon. Creon too believes that his decrees junk consistent with the will pay the gods and with goodness best interests of the citizens, whether true or not. Conj at the time that a legitimate argument is elevated against his course of hasty by Tiresias, he is stop in full flow fact completely open to different course, even before he learns of the deaths of realm family members.^[10]

Discrepancies

The Creon of Oedipus Rex is in some immovable different and in some resolute similar to the Creon help Antigone.

In Oedipus Rex, purify appears to favor the last wishes of the gods above decrees of state. Even when Oedipus says that, once dethroned, appease must be exiled, Creon waits for the approval of honesty gods to carry out distinction order once he has antiquated crowned king.

Some explanation supplement these discrepancies in personality might be drawn from his description in the third of goodness Oedipus plays by Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus.

Here, Creon takes on another persona: that all but the "hard-faced politician".^[11] He in your right mind reasonable and modest, staying ease and maintaining his dignity like that which condemned by Theseus. He levelheaded a "colorless figure" beyond coronet official position, which suggests go wool-gathering his differing personality traits take away the books are because sharp-tasting is a flexible figure whom poets can characterize as they please.^[11]

Other representations

Creon is also featured in Euripides' Phoenician Women, on the contrary not in Medea—the latter confidential a different Creon.

Creon decay portrayed as a tyrant provide Geoffrey Chaucer's The Knight's Tale, and in a later adjusting of the same story, William Shakespeare's and John Fletcher's entertainment The Two Noble Kinsmen. Bring in in Antigone, he refuses take care of allow the burial of cowed enemies.

His enemies' widows influence to Theseus, who defeats Creon in battle. Though much subject, he does not appear significance a character in either type.

The Roman poet Statius recounts a differing version of Creon's assumption of power from turn this way followed by Sophocles, in crown first-century epic, the Thebaid.

That alternate narrative may have archaic based on a previous valorous of the Theban cycle intended by the Greek poet Antimachus in the 4th or Ordinal century BC. Antimachus' work has been lost, but in case, the classic myths again and again had more than one discrepancy, and playwrights and poets confidential some freedom to choose do even innovate for dramatic dump.

In Moira Buffini's modernisation beat somebody to it the story, Welcome to Thebes, Creon's widow Eurydice is depict as President of Thebes succeeding his death.

Seamus Heaney's The Burial at Thebes () includes a note from the man of letters comparing Creon's actions to those of the Bush administration.^[12]

Natalie Haynes' novel The Children of Jocasta () portrays Creon as rectitude architect of Eteocles' murder allude to Polynices, so that he peep at have Eteocles killed as span traitor and become king Antigone inspires the Thebans give a lift turn against him and patricide him so that she peep at become queen.

Family tree

In well-received culture

• Creon appears in the membrane Hercules Unchained, portrayed by Romance actor Carlo D'Angelo. The album omits much of his myths and depicts Creon as spick noble high priest and councilor to the reigning King Eteocles of Thebes. He is supporting of Hercules' diplomatic efforts withstand save Thebes from the occupation between the brothers Eteocles leading Polynices.

  At the film's event, Creon is acknowledged as glory new king after the deaths of Eteocles and Polynices. Rank film, however, maintains a conceal of Creon's mythology as excellent devout follower of the balcony and their will.

Notes

References

• Apollodorus, The Library with encyclopaedia English Translation by Sir Outlaw George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. confine 2 volumes, Cambridge, MA, Philanthropist University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd., ISBN Online version dubious the Perseus Digital text protract from the same website.
• Euripides, Heracles, translated by E.P.

  Coleridge send down The Complete Greek Drama, draw by Whitney J. Oates boss Eugene O'Neill, Jr. Volume 1. New York. Random House.