Siege of Thebes
event · 3 works · 3 mentions · 6 anchored passages
siege of Thebes · the coming battle · the siege
in the texts
Phoenissae
The impending siege of Thebes by the seven Argive captains and their army, prepared for across the closing scenes of the window.
Around the city a thick cloud of shields is kindling a shape of bloody battle, which Ares will soon learn, if he brings upon the sons of Oedipus the curse of the Furies.
I will go to our seven towers and post captains at the gates, as you say, pitting them man for man against the enemy.
I have been everywhere, lord Eteocles, in my desire to see you, and have gone all round the gates and sentinels of Thebes hunting for you.
The Histories
The Greeks march on Thebes after burying their dead, besiege and ravage the city for nineteen days demanding the Medizing leaders' surrender, until Timagenidas persuades the Thebans to offer terms.
“Men of Thebes, since the Greeks have resolved that they will not raise the siege till Thebes is taken or we are delivered to them, do not let the land of Boeotia increase the measure of its ills for our sake.
As soon as the Greeks had buried their dead at Plataea, they resolved in council that they would march against Thebes and demand surrender of those who had taken the Persian side—particularly of Timagenidas and Attaginus, who were chief among their foremost men.
They came with this purpose on the eleventh day after the battle and laid siege to the Thebans, demanding the surrender of the men.
Demetrius
Demetrius's two sieges of Thebes in response to successive Boeotian revolts.
Quickly, therefore, and in wrath, Demetrius turned back, and finding that the Boeotians had been defeated in battle by his son Antigonus, once more laid siege to Thebes.
But when Demetrius brought up his engines-of-war against Thebes and laid siege to the city, Cleonymus took fright and stole away, and the Boeotians, in terror, surrendered.