Epigoni- Greek GroupCollective"The Afterborn"
Also known as: Epigonoi and Ἐπίγονοι
Description
Their fathers, the Seven, died beneath the walls of Thebes. A generation later the sons marched back, led by Alcmaeon on Apollo's command. They razed the city their fathers could not take. Alcmaeon then killed his own mother for the betrayals that had started both wars.
Mythology & Lore
The Afterborn
The Epigoni, "those born after," were the sons of the Seven against Thebes, the champions who had marched on the city to restore Polynices and died beneath its walls. Only Adrastus had escaped alive. A generation of fatherless sons grew up in his shadow.
The Bribery of Eriphyle
The oracle at Delphi prophesied victory if Alcmaeon led the army. He was reluctant, knowing what had befallen the original Seven, but his mother Eriphyle was bribed with the Robe of Harmonia, just as she had been bribed a generation earlier with the Necklace of Harmonia to send her husband Amphiaraus to his death. Amphiaraus had charged his sons to avenge him. Eriphyle took the bribe anyway.
The Fall of Thebes
They marched on Thebes and met the Theban army in battle outside the walls. Laodamas, son of Eteocles and last king of Thebes, led the defense. In the fighting, Laodamas killed Aegialeus, the only one of the Epigoni to fall. Old Adrastus died of grief when he heard the news.
With the defenses broken, the Epigoni sacked and razed Thebes. The blind prophet Tiresias died at the spring Tilphussa while fleeing the devastation. Among the captives was Tiresias's daughter Manto, the prophetess, whom the Epigoni dedicated to Apollo at Delphi as a victory offering.
Aftermath
Thersander took the throne of conquered Thebes. Alcmaeon obeyed his father's dying command and killed his mother Eriphyle for twice betraying her family. The Erinyes came for him. They drove him mad and turned him into a fugitive.