CLASSIC 45B Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Ismene, Haemon, Delian League
Document Summary
Some historical background for second half of classical 5th c. bc. Sophocles, born around 495, died in 405. During which greeks repelled persian attacks to invade greece. After persian wars, athens founded the delian league. An alliance of greek city states for common defense purposes. Athens" provocative politics, resentment for expansion of athenian political power. War between sparta and athens- two major city states in greece. Athens defeated in 404 at end of peloponnesian war. Antigone is one of oedipus and jocasta"s 4 children. After eteocles and polynices died, there were serious moral, religious, and political dilemmas as presented in sophocles" masterpiece his tragedy antigone. Creon, jocasta"s brother, assumed regency of throne and ordered in a decree that polynices was not to be buried, bc he was a traitor who had attacked his own homeland, thebes. Problematization of hero who attacks his city.