Creon (1325 BC-) was King of Thebes in the 13th century BC, succeeding Oedipus and preceding Polynices and Eteocles.
Biography[]
Creon was born in 1325 BC, the son of Menoeceus and the brother of Jocasta, and he served as regent for his brother-in-law, King Laius of Thebes, as he went to consult the Oracle in Delphi. Laius was killed by his own son Oedipus before he could return to Thebes, and Oedipus was elected as Laius' legitimate successor. Oedipus went on to marry his own mother and reign as King for approximately ten years, but, after Oedipus discovered that he had murdered his father, Jocasta deduced that Oedipus was really her son, and she hanged herself in despair. Oedipus allowed for Creon to become king and asked him to banish him from Thebes for the rest of his life, and Creon agreed. Later, Oedipus' sons Eteocles and Polynices became co-rulers of Thebes, but, after the two sons were killed in a war with the Achaeans, Creon again became regent. Creon had Polynices' body left out to rot, and he sought to have Polynices' sister Antigone entombed alive for attempting to bury him; he was later persuaded to bury Polynices and let Antigone live, but she hanged herself rather than suffer such an agonizing death. Creon's own son Haemon attempted to kill him before ultimately taking his own life. Several years later, he was killed by a descendant of the regent Lycus, Lycus II, who usurped the crown.