Haemon

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According to Sophocles' play Antigone (Sophocles), Haemon ("bloody") (or Haimon, Greek :Άιμον Haimon) was the son of Creon and Eurydice.

When Oedipus stepped down as King of Thebes, he gave the kingdom to his two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, who both agreed to alternate the throne every year. However, they showed no concern for their father, who cursed them for their negligence. After the first year, Eteocles refused to step down and Polynices attacked Thebes with his supporters of the Argive (the Seven Against Thebes). Both brothers died in the battle. King Creon, Oedipus' brother-in-law and the sons' uncle, decreed that Polynices was not to be buried. Antigone, Oedipus' daughter and the sister of Polynices, defied the order, but was caught. Creon decreed that she was to be thrown into a cave with a days worth of food, in spite of the fact that she was betrothed to his son, Haemon. The gods, through the blind prophet Tiresias, expressed their disapproval of Creon's decision, which convinced him to rescind his order, and he went to bury Polynices. However, Antigone had already hanged herself on the way to her burial. When Creon arrived at the tomb where she was to be left, his son, Haemon, threatens him and tries to kill him but ends up taking his own life. Creon's wife Eurydice, informed of Haemon's death, took her own life out of grief.

Haemon is betrothed to Antigone. He must choose between his father (whom he has always followed) and his lover Antigone. He chooses the morally right side of Antigone's but cannot separate himself from either because of the strong ties of family and love. He commits suicide because of his helpless situation, which also leads his mother to commit suicide. These actions cause Creon's madness at the play's conclusion.

See also

• Epigoni