Seven against Thebes

When the shamed Oedipus stepped down as king of Thebes, he gave the kingdom to his two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, on the understanding that they would alternate the throne every year. However, after the first year, Eteocles refuses to step down and drives out Polynices. Polynices and the Argive king Adrastus gather together a force under seven captains and are about to attack the city of Thebes in order to claim the throne. Eteocles appears and warns the people, calling them to arms. Then he resolves to meet Polynices and fight with him in single combat. Both brothers die. The bodies of the two princes are brought on stage, and the Chorus mourns them, as do the sisters of the killed men, Antigone and Ismene, who alone are left of the royal house. The tragedy is now complete. A great play by Aeschylus, father of classical western tragedy.

Unabridged edition with an interactive table of contents.