In Greek mythology, Argea or Argia (or Argeia) was a daughter of King Adrastus of Argos, and of Amphithea, daughter of Pronax. She was married to Polynices, the exiled king of Thebes, and bore him three sons: Thersander, Adrastus, and Timeas.
Polynices, son of Oedipus, was to rule Thebes with his brother Eteocles on alternating years. Eteocles ruled the first year. When the year was over for Eteocles, Polynices demanded the rule. Eteocles refused to yield it and so Polynices sought out the help from King Adrastus. Polynices begged an army from King Adrastus for recovering his father’s kingdom from his brother Eteocles. King Adrastus not only gave an army but set out himself with six other leaders, since Thebes had seven gates that protected the city. The Seven Against Thebes set out to battle against the army of Thebes headed by Eteocles. Polynices and Eteocles killed each other in a fight among themselves in the pursuing battle.
Argia set out with others to find her beloved husband among the many lying in the battlefield rotting, in spite of capital punishment by King Creon forbidding such. She searched until she found him. Argia tried to revive him with kisses and tears, however all her efforts were in vain. She then had his body cremated and placed the ashes in an urn. Her virtuous acts showed her genuine love she had for her husband.
See also[]
- Apollodorus 3.6.1
- Phoenician Women
- Hyginus, who in his Fabulae (Latin) calls her Argia.
- Robert Graves in his popular The Greek Myths (106c) prefers the spelling Aegeia.
- Euripides in The Phoenician Women and Suppliants, who mentions the wedding without giving her name.
References[]
Primary sources[]
- Statius, Thebais IV.187-213
- Hyginus, Fabulae, 69. LXIX
- Hyginus, Fabulae, 70. LXX
- Apollodorus, Library 1.9.13
- Apollodorus, Library, 3.6.1
Secondary sources[]
bg:Аргия ca:Argia de:Argeia (Tochter des Adrastos) it:Argia (mitologia) pl:Argeja ru:Аргия uk:Аргія