That he fights against his hometown of Thebes is the reason why Polyneices' burial is forbidden in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, Polyneices' body deserves a below-ground burial because all Thebans have divine guarantees of below-ground burials and proper funeral rites. But Polyneices' uncle, Theban King Creon, decides to deny these rights to Thebans fighting with Argive invaders in the recent civil war over the Theban royal succession. He calls for non-burial of the dead, which is to be expected for non-Thebans but unexpected even for disloyal Thebans.
Give their brother Polynices a proper burial.
Antigone believed her brother, Polynices, should have been buried and honored just at Eteocles had been. Creon believed that Polynices was a traitor for attacking Thebes and therefor left him to rot in the field. He also sent out a decree that no one was to bury him.
King Creon of Thebes passed a law forbidding the burial of Antigone's brother Polynices. Creon passed this law because Polynices led an army against Thebes, his native country. Polynies's brother Eteocles, however, is given a proper burial because he led Thebes in this war. Antigone wanted to bury her brother Polynices because the laws of the gods commanded it. Antigone burried her brother and confessed her deed to Creon. Creon then sentenced her to her death. He burried her alive in a cave with just enough food to survive. Antigone decided to hang herself to put herself out of her misery.
polynices
Their brothers are Etocles and Polynices.
Antigone insists that she will bury her brother Polynices, even though it is forbidden by the king's decree. She believes it is her duty to honor her brother with a proper burial, regardless of the consequences.
Give their brother Polynices a proper burial.
It was Antigone; Creon's decree was that Polynices was not be be given burial rights but Antigone violated this decree by burying the body of her brother.
Antigone believed her brother, Polynices, should have been buried and honored just at Eteocles had been. Creon believed that Polynices was a traitor for attacking Thebes and therefor left him to rot in the field. He also sent out a decree that no one was to bury him.
King Creon of Thebes passed a law forbidding the burial of Antigone's brother Polynices. Creon passed this law because Polynices led an army against Thebes, his native country. Polynies's brother Eteocles, however, is given a proper burial because he led Thebes in this war. Antigone wanted to bury her brother Polynices because the laws of the gods commanded it. Antigone burried her brother and confessed her deed to Creon. Creon then sentenced her to her death. He burried her alive in a cave with just enough food to survive. Antigone decided to hang herself to put herself out of her misery.
Polynices (Antigone's brother)
Eteocles and Polynices.
polynices
Their brothers are Etocles and Polynices.
King Creon regards only the requirement of political expediency. Soon after the civil strife between Eteocles and Polynices ends in their deaths, he announces a decree denying Polynices' burial. He is unrelenting in his stance, as he wants Thebans to know that he is a firm ruler. Thus he sentences his own niece, Antigone, to death for defying his law.
Creon (King of Thebes) and the gods. Creon forbid the burial of Polynices- yet the gods wanted everyone to be buried; both the good and the bad.
3: Polynices, Eteocles, Ismene