euripides’ phœnissæ

Euripides’ Phœnissæ

Phœnissæ

– Important Names• Iocasta• Creon• Polynices• Eteocles• Antigone• Teiresias• Menœceus

– Date: ca. 409 B.C.– Recent commentary by

Donald J. Mastronarde

– Probably part of a trilogy. The titles of the other plays are disputed.

– There are almost certainly later interpolations. The precise lines interpolated are disputed.

Plot Summary

– I. Prologue by Iocasta (1-87)• A. History of Cadmus’ line (1-9)

• B. Her name (10-13)

• C. The tragedy of the house so far (14-80)– 1. The birth of Œdipus (13-31)

– 2. The murder of Laïus (31-44)

– 3. The riddle of the sphinx and Œdipus’ resulting marriage and children (45-58)

– 4. Œdipus’ downfall (59-69)

– 5. Eteocles and Polynices (70-80)

• D. The truce (81-87)

Plot Summary (cont.)

– II. Dialogue between Antigone and the pedagogue (Teichoscopia) (88-201)

• A. Pedagogue’s opening speech (88-102)• B. The “Seven Against Thebes” (103-181)

– 1. Hippomedon (119-131)

– 2. Tydeus (132-144)

– 3. Parthenopæus (145-155)

– 4. Polynices and Adrastus (156-171)

– 5. Amphiaraus (171-177)

– 6. Capaneus (178-191)

• C. Pedagogue’s closing speech (192-201)


– III. Parodos (202-260)• A. Self-description (202-236)

• B. The impending battle (237-260)

– IV. Dialogue between Iocasta, Polynices, and Eteocles (261-636)

• A. Dialogue between Polynices and the chorus (261-301)

• B. Dialogue between Polynices and Iocaste (302-442)


– 1. Iocaste’s speech (302-353)» a. Her joy (302-316)» b. Her grief (317-325)» c. Œdipus’ grief (326-335)» d. Polynices’ marriage (336-349)» e. Conclusion (350-353)

– 2. Polynices’ speech (357-378)» a. His love of Thebes (357-370)» b. He asks about his family (371-378)

– 3. Dialogue (379-442)» a. Polynices’ wandering (379-407)» b. His alliance to Adrastus and Tydeus (408-425)» c. The attack against Thebes (426-442)


• C. Dialogue between all three (443-636)– 1. Iocasta opens the debate (452-468)

– 2. Polynices’ argument (469-496)

– 3. Eteocles’ argument (499-525)

– 4. Iocasta tries again (528-585)

– 5. Stichomythia (588-636)

Phœnissæ Plot Summary (cont.)

– 1. Iocaste’s speech (302-353)

» a. Her joy (302-316)

» b. Her grief (317-325)

» c. Œdipus’ grief (326-335)

» d. Polynices’ marriage (336-349)

» e. Conclusion (350-353)

– 2. Polynices’ speech (357-378)

» a. His love of Thebes (357-370)

» b. He asks about his family (371-378)

– 3. Dialogue (379-442)

» a. Polynices’ wandering (379-407)


» b. His alliance to Adrastus and Tydeus (408-425)

» c. The attack against Thebes (426-442)

• C. Dialogue between all three (443-636)– 1. Iocasta opens the debate (452-468)

– 2. Polynices’ argument (469-496)

– 3. Eteocles’ argument (499-525)

– 4. Iocasta tries again (528-585)

– 5. Stichomythia (588-636)


– V. First Stasimon (638-689)• A. Strophe: Cadmus, Dionysius (638-656)

• B. Antistrophe: the dragon; the Sparti (657-675)

• C. Epode: appeal to Epaphus (676-689)

– VI. Dialogue between Eteocles and Creon (690-783)• A. C enters (691-696)

• B. Introductory material (697-705)

• C. War is imminent (706-719)

• D. They discuss strategy (720-756)


• E. E’s three requests (757-783)– 1. Marry Hæmon to Antigone (757-762)

– 2. Consult Teiresias (766-773)

– 3. Forbid Polyneices’ burial (774-777)

– VII. Second Stasimon (784-833)• A. Strophe: Ares (present) (784-800)

• B. Antistrophe: Cithæron (past) (801-817)

• C. Epode: Gæa (distant past) (818-833)


– VIII. Dialogue between Creon and Teiresias (834-976)

• A. T led in by his daughter and Menœcius (834-848)• B. C’s question (849-864)• C. T delays (865-910

– 1. On Œdipus (865-877)– 2. On Eteocles, Polynices, and Thebes (878-884)– 3. T reluctant to reveal the cure (885-895)– 4. C forces him to speak (896-910)

• D. Menœcius must die (911-918)


• E. C refuses (919-928)

• F. T explains the reason (929-959)

• G. C chooses his son over his city (962-969)

– IX. Menœcius’ self-sacrifice (970-1018)• A. Creon urges M to flee (970-976)

• B. M agrees until C leaves (977-990)

• C. M will kill himself to save Thebes (991-1018)

– X. Third Stasimon (1019-1066)• A. Strophe: the Sphinx (1019-1042)


• B. Antistrophe: the house of Cadmus (1043-1066)

– XI. Messenger speech (1067-1283)• A. Eteocles’ attendant (1212) summons Iocaste

(1067-1076)

• B. E and P are still alive; M is dead (1077-1092)

• C. The seven part 2; cf. 103-181 (1093-1140)

• D. Battle description (1175-1199)

• E. Reluctant messenger tells of the arrangement for single combat between the brothers (1200-1258)


• F. He urges Iocaste to go to the battle and stop them (1259-1263)

• G. Iocaste and Antigone go (1264-1283)

– XII. Fourth Stasimon: a dirge (1283-1305)– XIII. Messenger speech (1307-1479)

• A. Creon mourns Menœcius (1307-1331)• B. Messenger: the brothers are dead (1331-1346)• C. Messenger: Iocaste is dead (1347-1353)• D. Messenger speech part 1: the death of the

brothers (1354-1426)


• E. Messenger speech part 2: the death of Iocaste and the Theban victory (1427-1479)

– XIV. Kommos (1480-1581)• A. Antigone mourns (1485-1538)• B. Œdipus learns what has happened (1539-1581)

– XV. Dialogue between Creon, Antigone, and Œdipus (1582-1766)

• C. Œdipus exiled by Creon (1584-1594)• D. Œdipus mourns (1595-1624)• E. Creon forbids Polynices’ burial (1625-1634)


• F. Antigone argues with Creon (1639-1692)– 1. She will bury Polynices (1639-1672)

– 2. She will not marry Hæmon (1673-1677)

– 3. She will go with Œdipus (1678-1692)

• G. Œdipus tells of his fated end (1703-1709)

• H. Œdipus and Antigone depart, mourning (1710-1763)

• I. Choral coda (1763-1766)

euripides’ phœnissæ

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