Page:Greek and Roman Mythology.djvu/146

132 GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY by means of a beautiful necklace, which, however, brought ruin to its possessor. Therefore he charged his son Alcmaeon (' the strong ') that as soon as he grew up he should take revenge upon her for his death. 172. In spite of omens, which predicted all sorts of evil, the Seven, trusting in their own power, advanced against Thebes and assaulted the seven gates of the city. Capaneus had already scaled the walls, when a bolt from the hand of Zeus dashed him down again. The two brothers Eteocles and Polynices killed each other in single combat, yet the fight continued to rage with fearful fury. Tydeus, even in the throes of death, lacerated with his teeth the head of his fallen antagonist and sipped the brains out of the gaping skull. Amphiaratis was buried alive with his chariot close by Thebes in a chasm in the ground, which Zeus opened in front of him by a thunder- bolt. Here he ruled as a spirit giving out oracles by means of dreams. He was greatly revered also in other places, especially at Oropus in the district of Psaphis ; but originally he was none other than Hades himself, invoked under the name of 'the besought on every side.' 173. Adrastus, saved by his swift war horse Arion, was the only one of the seven to escape. The Thebans were persuaded by him, or, according to the Attic version of the story, were compelled by Theseus, to deliver up the fallen for burial. Aeschylus and Sophocles add at this point the story of Antigone's fate. According to them Polynices was to remain unburied as an enemy to his native land. But his sister Antigone, contrary to this command, dragged him upon the funeral pyre of Eteo- cles, or at least covered him with earth. She was seized by the appointed watchers and punished by death for