Polyphontes

In Greek mythology, Polyphontes (Ancient Greek: Πολυφόντης) was the son of Autophonus, a warrior who figured in Polynices' war to regain the throne of Thebes from his brother, Eteocles.

Mythology

Polyphontes was mentioned in Book IV of the Iliad, when Agamemnon reminds Diomedes of the deeds of his father Tydeus. In Agamemnon's story, Tydeus was an ally of Polynices. He entered Thebes, and challenged and defeated all the Theban leaders. Eteocles then sent Polyphontes and Maion with fifty men to ambush Tydeus on his way back to his army, but Tydeus killed all of them except Maion.^[1] In some translations the name is given as Lycophontes.

In Aeschylus' play Seven Against Thebes, however, Polyphontes is one of the seven Theban defenders who face the Argive champions at Thebes' gates. He faces Capaneus at the Electran gates.^[2]

Notes

1. Homer. The Iliad (translated by Richmond Lattimore). Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1951, p. 123.
2. Aeschylus. Seven Against Thebes, line 449.

References

• Aeschylus, translated in two volumes. 1. Seven Against Thebes by Herbert Weir Smyth, Ph. D. Cambridge, MA. Harvard University Press. 1926. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.
• Homer, The Iliad with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, Ph.D. in two volumes. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. ISBN 978-0674995796. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
• Homer, Homeri Opera in five volumes. Oxford, Oxford University Press. 1920. ISBN 978-0198145318. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.