Polyneices, the son of Oedipus and Jocasta, has been left unburied because Creon, king of Thebes and brother of Jocasta (both uncle and grand uncle to Polyneices) has issued a decree forbidding his burial. The reasons for Creon's decree can be better understood with reference to Aeschylus' Seven against Thebes. After the banishment of their father (and brother), Oedipus, Polyneices and his brother Eteocles try to reach some agreement about how Thebes is to be...
Polyneices, the son of Oedipus and Jocasta, has been left unburied because Creon, king of Thebes and brother of Jocasta (both uncle and grand uncle to Polyneices) has issued a decree forbidding his burial. The reasons for Creon's decree can be better understood with reference to Aeschylus' Seven against Thebes. After the banishment of their father (and brother), Oedipus, Polyneices and his brother Eteocles try to reach some agreement about how Thebes is to be ruled. In the interim, Creon rules because both Eteocles and Polyneices are too young. Although they initially decide on taking turns to rule, Polyneices decides to attack Thebes during Eteocles' rule. The battle that ensues results in both their deaths. Creon, who needs to assert himself as the new king, has a state burial for Eteocles, who was defending the city of Thebes, but decides that Polyneices is to be left to the birds and animals (thereby preventing his soul from moving on) because of his treachery. Polyneices died attacking Thebes and Eteocles died defending it; for this reason Creon deems it fit that the former be denied a proper burial.
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