How does Haemon's brother Megareus die?

Answer 1

Megareus, who also is called Menoeceus, dies during the royal struggle over the Theban throne by his first cousins, the twin brothers Eteocles and Polyneices. He's the son of King Creon and Queen Eurydice of Thebes. So he's the brother of Haemon, who's the fiance of Antigone.

In the struggle between the twins, Creon supports Eteocles. Megareus wants to fight on Eteocles' side. But Creon doesn't want him to. He even less wants him to, once he hears what Teiresias the blind prophet has to say. Teiresias says that Eteocles will win if Creon sacrifices Megareus.

But Creon doesn't want to sacrifice his own son, Neither does he want Teiresias to share this vital piece of information with the rest of Thebes. So he has Megareus leave, to be sheltered outside the city and away from the conflict. But Megareus sneaks back, and dies during the struggle, to make sure that his city wins against the army of invading Argives and discontented Thebans.