All Topics  
Haemon

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Haemon
 
 
  Topics Haemon Topic Home

In Greek mythology
Greek mythology

Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the Ancient Greece concerning their List of Greek mythological figures#Immortals and Greek hero cult, Cosmology#Metaphysical cosmology, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices....
, Haemon ("bloody") (or Haimon, Greek :??µ?? Haimon) was the son of Creon
Creon

Creon is a figure in Greek mythology best known as the ruler of Thebes,_Greece in the legend of Oedipus. He was the father of Menoeceus and Megara by his wife, Eurydice of Thebes....
 and Eurydice
Eurydice of Thebes

In Greek mythology, Eurydice was the wife of Creon, a king of Thebes, Greece. She appears briefly in Sophocles Antigone , to kill herself after learning that her son Haemon and his betrothed, Antigone, had both committed suicide....
.

When Oedipus stepped down as King of Thebes, he gave the kingdom to his two sons, Eteocles
Eteocles

In Greek mythology, Eteocles was a king of Thebes , the son of Oedipus and either Jocasta or Euryganeia. The name is from earlier *Etewoklewes , meaning "truly glorious"....
 and Polynices
Polynices

In Greek mythology, Polynices or Polyneices was the son of Oedipus and Jocasta. His wife was Argea. His father, Oedipus, was discovered to have killed his father and married his mother, and was expelled from Thebes , leaving his sons Eteocles and Polynices to rule....
, who both agreed to alternate the throne every year. However, they showed no concern for their father, who cursed them for their negligence. After the first year, Eteocles refused to step down and Polynices attacked Thebes with his supporters of the Argive (the Seven Against Thebes
Seven Against Thebes

The Seven against Thebes is a mythic narrative whose classic statement is found in the play by Aeschylus concerning the battle between the Seven led by Polynices, traditional Theban enemies, and the army of Thebes, Greece headed by Eteocles and his supporters....
).






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Haemon'
Start a new discussion about 'Haemon'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


In Greek mythology
Greek mythology

Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the Ancient Greece concerning their List of Greek mythological figures#Immortals and Greek hero cult, Cosmology#Metaphysical cosmology, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices....
, Haemon ("bloody") (or Haimon, Greek :??µ?? Haimon) was the son of Creon
Creon

Creon is a figure in Greek mythology best known as the ruler of Thebes,_Greece in the legend of Oedipus. He was the father of Menoeceus and Megara by his wife, Eurydice of Thebes....
 and Eurydice
Eurydice of Thebes

In Greek mythology, Eurydice was the wife of Creon, a king of Thebes, Greece. She appears briefly in Sophocles Antigone , to kill herself after learning that her son Haemon and his betrothed, Antigone, had both committed suicide....
.

When Oedipus stepped down as King of Thebes, he gave the kingdom to his two sons, Eteocles
Eteocles

In Greek mythology, Eteocles was a king of Thebes , the son of Oedipus and either Jocasta or Euryganeia. The name is from earlier *Etewoklewes , meaning "truly glorious"....
 and Polynices
Polynices

In Greek mythology, Polynices or Polyneices was the son of Oedipus and Jocasta. His wife was Argea. His father, Oedipus, was discovered to have killed his father and married his mother, and was expelled from Thebes , leaving his sons Eteocles and Polynices to rule....
, who both agreed to alternate the throne every year. However, they showed no concern for their father, who cursed them for their negligence. After the first year, Eteocles refused to step down and Polynices attacked Thebes with his supporters of the Argive (the Seven Against Thebes
Seven Against Thebes

The Seven against Thebes is a mythic narrative whose classic statement is found in the play by Aeschylus concerning the battle between the Seven led by Polynices, traditional Theban enemies, and the army of Thebes, Greece headed by Eteocles and his supporters....
). Both brothers died in the battle. King Creon, who ascended to the throne of Thebes, decreed that Polynices was not to be buried. Antigone
Antigone

Antigone is the name of two different women in Greek mythology. The name may be taken to mean "unbending", coming from "anti-" and "-gon / -gony" , but has also been suggested to mean "opposed to motherhood" or "in place of a mother" based from the root gone, "that which generates" ....
, his sister, defied the order, but was caught. Creon decreed that she was to be thrown into a stone room with a days worth of food, – in spite of the fact that she was betrothed to his son, Haemon. The gods, through the blind prophet Tiresias
Tiresias

In Greek mythology, Tiresias was a blind prophet of Thebes , famous for being transformed into a woman for seven years. He was the son of the shepherd Everes and the nymph Chariclo; Tiresias participated in fully seven generations at Thebes, beginning as advisor to Cadmus himself....
, expressed their disapproval of Creon's decision, which convinced him to rescind his order, and he went to bury Polynices. However, Antigone had already hanged herself rather than be buried alive. When Creon arrived at the tomb where she was to be interred, his son, Haemon, threatens him and tries to kill him but ends up taking his own life. When Creon's wife, Eurydice, was informed of Haemon's death she took her own life out of grief.

Haemon is betrothed to Antigone, he must choose between his father (whom he has always followed) and his lover Antigone. He chooses the morally right side of Antigone's but cannot separate himself from either because of the strong ties of family and love. He commits suicide because of his helpless situation, this is part of the reason for Creon's madness at the play's conclusion.

See also

  • Epigoni
    Epigoni

    In Greek mythology, 'Epigoni' are the sons of the Argive heroes who had fought and been killed in the first Theban war, the subject of the Thebaid , in which Polynices and six allies attacked Thebes, Greece because Polynices' brother, Eteocles, refused to give up the throne as promised....