Amphiaraus in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Amphiaraus

19 passages from 9 ancient authors that tell of Amphiaraus, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Amphiaraus was a king of Argos in Greek mythology, who reigned alongside Iphis and Adrastus, brother of his wife Eriphyle. He was the son of Oecles an... For the story in one place, read our article on Amphiaraus.

Hesiod (2)

Hesiod, Fragments 1.68The suitors of HelenThe best-preserved passage of the Catalogue lists the heroes who came to woo Helen, each with his gifts, from Philoctetes and the sons of Amphiaraus to Odysseus, Menestheus, Aias and Idomeneus. Tyndareus sends none away and receives no gift, and the passage ends with the birth of Hermione.
Hesiod, Fragments 1.97–99Ellopia, a fierce boar and the house of AmphiarausA fragment describes the land of Ellopia, its flocks and cattle, and the oak oracle of Dodona. A longer passage describes a terrible fight in which no mortal could face a boar with gleaming tusks except Heracles. The last fragment gives the seer Amphiaraus, his wife Eriphyle and their son Alcmaeon.

Homer (2)

Homer, Odyssey 15.182–300Pylos; TheoclymenusTelemachus drives to Pylos, where he asks Peisistratus to take him directly to the ship, to avoid a delay at Nestor's house, and he sails at once. At the ship he is met by Theoclymenus, a seer who has fled Argos after a killing, and who begs to be taken on board. Telemachus agrees, and they sail past Pheae and Elis, steering for the sharp isles.
Homer, Homerica 2.1–4.2Lost epics, Margites and CercopesThe first pieces are ancient notes on epics ascribed to Homer: the Expedition of Amphiaraus, the Taking of Oechalia and the Phocais. The Margites, a comic poem about a man who knew many things badly, survives in a few lines, and the Cercopes in a note on the thieving brothers Passalus and Acmon.

Apollodorus (1)

Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 3.6.1–8The Seven against ThebesEteocles and Polynices quarrel over the throne of Thebes, and Polynices gathers an Argive army under Adrastus. Amphiaraus foresees disaster but is compelled to join by Eriphyle, who has accepted the necklace of Harmonia. At Nemea the infant Opheltes is killed by a serpent and the Nemean games are founded; at Thebes Menoeceus sacrifices himself on Tiresias's word, Capaneus is struck by lightning, and Eteocles and Polynices kill each other. Tydeus loses Athena's gift by eating Melanippus's brain, Amphiaraus is swallowed by the earth, and only Adrastus escapes.

Pindar (2)

Pindar, Nemean Odes 9.1–55Nemean 9: for Chromius — Adrastus and the SevenPindar leads the Muses from Sicyon to the new city of Aetna to praise Chromius, victor in the chariot race. He tells how Adrastus, who had fled Argos, founded contests for Apollo at Sicyon, and how Zeus swallowed Amphiaraüs and his chariot in the earth at Thebes. He ends by praising Chromius' courage in battle at the river Helorus and his wealth.
Pindar, Olympian Odes 6.1–105Olympian 6: for Hagesias — Iamus, son of ApolloPindar likens the opening of his ode to the building of a hall on golden pillars and praises Hagesias of Syracuse, an Iamid and victor with the mule-car, recalling Adrastus' lament for Amphiaraüs. He tells how Euadne, loved by Apollo, hid her child Iamus among the violets, where bees' honey fed him, and how Apollo later gave him the gift of prophecy and an oracle at Olympia. He closes by sending Aeneas to praise Hera and Stymphalus, and with a prayer to Poseidon.

Aeschylus (1)

Aeschylus, Seven against Thebes 563–652Second episode: Amphiaraus and Polyneices at the last two gatesThe Scout names the sixth champion, the seer Amphiaraus, who rebukes Tydeus and Polyneices for leading the attack and carries no sign on his shield. Eteocles pities the just man who is joined with the impious, and sets Lasthenes against him. The Scout then names the seventh champion at the seventh gate, Eteocles' own brother Polyneices, who prays that he may kill Eteocles or die with him.

Sophocles (1)

Sophocles, Electra 773–848Second episode: Clytaemnestra's relief and Electra's despairClytaemnestra says that Orestes' death frees her from the fear that kept her from sleep, and she invites the stranger into the house. Electra, left with the Chorus, says that she will lie at the gate and wither away, since her only hope of an avenger is dead. The Chorus answer her with the story of Amphiaraus, betrayed by his wife but still powerful among the dead, but Electra says that she has no champion left.

Euripides (2)

Euripides, Phoenician Women 145–201Prologue: Antigone sees Parthenopaeus, Amphiaraus and CapaneusAntigone asks about Parthenopaeus, spots Polyneices beside Adrastus, and sees the prophet Amphiaraus in his chariot. The old servant points out Capaneus, who is measuring the walls for an assault, and Antigone prays against his boasts. The old man sends her back inside before the women arrive.
Euripides, Suppliants 918–954Fourth episode: Theseus arranges the burialThe Chorus laments for the sons that they bore. Theseus says that the gods took Amphiaraus living, chariot and all, into the earth, and he will bury Capaneus apart as a consecrated corpse. He tells the mothers that they must not touch their sons' bodies, which are too marred to be seen, and that their bones will be given to them after the burning.

Diodorus Siculus (1)

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.64.1–4.66.6Oedipus, the Seven against Thebes and the EpigoniLaïus is killed by his unknown son Oedipus, who solves the riddle of the Sphinx and, unknowingly marrying his mother, has two sons and two daughters; the sons quarrel over the throne. Polyneices gathers an army against Thebes and Eriphyle, bribed with the necklace of Harmonia, sends Amphiaraüs to his death; the Seven fail, and the Athenians force the Thebans to give up the dead. At the seer Teiresias' advice the Thebans leave the city for Tilphossaeum, and the Epigoni take and sack it, dedicating Teiresias' daughter Daphne to Delphi, where she is also called Sibylla.

Pausanias (7)

Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.34.1–5Oropus and the sanctuary of AmphiarausPausanias describes Oropus, a Boeotian land long disputed with Athens, and the sanctuary of Amphiaraus twelve furlongs from it. He gives the legend of Amphiaraus’ disappearance into the earth at Harma, the divided altar with its many gods, the spring into which healed visitors throw coins, and the rites of purification and sleeping on a ram’s skin for dream oracles. He also remarks on Iophon’s oracles and on the nature of divination.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 5.17.1–11Olympia: the Heraeum’s images and the Chest of Cypselus, first fieldPausanias lists the images in the temple of Hera, among them Zeus and Hera, the Seasons, Themis, the Hesperides and works by Praxiteles, and then describes the cedar Chest of Cypselus, in which the infant Cypselus was hidden. He explains the inscriptions in boustrophedon and describes the first field of its reliefs, the chariot race of Pelops and Oenomaus, the house of Amphiaraus and the funeral games of Pelias.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.23.1–8Argos: Hollow Street, the Asclepieum and disputed Argive tombsAlong Hollow Street are a temple of Dionysus, brought from Euboea, the house of Adrastus, and shrines of Amphiaraus, Eriphyle, Asclepius and Baton. Pausanias disputes Argive claims to hold the tombs of Hyrnetho, Deianira and Helenus and the Palladium, noting that the Palladium went to Italy and Deianira died near Trachis. He also describes the underground chamber of Acrisius’ daughter, the tomb of Crotopus, and the temple of Cretan Dionysus, where Ariadne’s coffin was said to be found.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3.12.1–11Sparta: the street Apheta, the Booneta, the Hellenium and the SciasAlong the street Apheta, Pausanias explains the name from the foot-race of Penelope’s suitors, then the Booneta bought with oxen and the sanctuaries of Athena Goddess of Paths. He also lists shrines of Iops, Amphiaraus and Lelex, the precinct of Taenarian Poseidon, the Hellenium and the tomb of Talthybius, altars of Apollo and Earth, royal graves, the sanctuary of Arsinoe, the shrine of Maron and Alpheus, the temples of Zeus Tropaeus and the Great Mother, and the Scias, where public assemblies meet.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.13.1–8Phlius: the Dorian conquest and the sights of the acropolis and market-placeThe Dorian Rhegnidas takes Phlius, and Hippasus, ancestor of Pythagoras, withdraws to Samos. Pausanias describes the acropolis with the grove and sanctuary of Ganymeda or Hebe, the temples of Hera, Demeter and Asclepius, and the theatre. In the market-place are the bronze goat worshipped against blight, the tomb of Aristias, the house of divination associated with Amphiaraus, the Navel, and the chapel of Cyathus killed by Hercules.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 9.8.1–7Thebes: Potniae, the seven gates and CapaneusPausanias describes the ruins of Potniae, with a grove of Demeter and the Maid where sucking pigs are thrown into the megara, and the temple of Dionysus the Goat-shooter, whose rite replaced a human sacrifice with a goat. He notes the enclosure where the earth is said to have swallowed Amphiaraus. He lists the seven gates of Thebes, named Electran, Proetidian, Neistan, Crenaean, Hypsistan, Ogygian and Homoloidian, with the stories of their names, and the place where Capaneus was struck by lightning at the Electran gate.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 10.10.1–8Delphi: offerings of the Athenians and Argives, and the Tarentine offerings and founding of TarentumPausanias describes the Athenian offering from the spoils of Marathon, with the statues of Athena, Apollo, Miltiades and the tribal heroes by Phidias, and the Argive offerings of the Seven against Thebes and the Epigoni and of the descendants of Danaus. He then describes the bronze horses and captive women of the Tarentines, and tells how Phalanthus understood the oracle of rain under a clear sky when his wife Aethra wept, and took Tarentum.