Pausanias Analysis

Passage 9.5.12

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Passage 9.5.12: Polyneices' exile, alliance with Adrastus, and duel with Eteocles.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

Πολυνείκης δὲ περιόντος μὲν καὶ ἄρχοντος Οἰδίποδος ὑπεξῆλθεν ἐκ Θηβῶν δέει μὴ τελεσθεῖεν ἐπὶ σφίσιν αἱ κατᾶραι τοῦ πατρός· ἀφικόμενος δὲ ἐς Ἄργος καὶ θυγατέρα Ἀδράστου λαβὼν κατῆλθεν ἐς Θήβας μετάπεμπτος ὑπὸ Ἐτεοκλέους μετὰ τὴν τελευτὴν Οἰδίποδος. κατελθὼν δὲ ἐς διαφορὰν προήχθη τῷ Ἐτεοκλεῖ, καὶ οὕτω τὸ δεύτερον ἔφυγε· δεηθεὶς δὲ Ἀδράστου δοῦναί οἱ δύναμιν τὴν κατάξουσαν, τήν τε στρατιὰν ἀπόλλυσι καὶ πρὸς τὸν Ἐτεοκλέα αὐτὸς μονομαχεῖ κατὰ πρόκλησιν.

English Translation

Polyneices, while Oedipus was still alive and ruling, departed from Thebes for fear that his father's curses might be fulfilled upon him. Coming to Argos and having taken Adrastus' daughter in marriage, he returned to Thebes when summoned by Eteocles following Oedipus' death. Upon his return, however, he became embroiled in a dispute with Eteocles, and thus fled a second time. After beseeching Adrastus to grant him an army that would restore him, he lost the host and himself engaged Eteocles in single combat, according to a mutual challenge.

Proper Nouns

Oedipus (Οἰδίπους) person
Polyneices (Πολυνείκης) person
Adrastus (Ἄδραστος) person
Eteocles (Ἐτεοκλῆς) person
Thebes (Θῆβαι) place Q11225429
Argos (Ἄργος) place Q13533353
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