Creon in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Creon

49 passages from 5 ancient authors that tell of Creon, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Creon was the name of different figures in Greek mythology, the most important being the ruler of Thebes in the myth of Oedipus. He was married to Eur... For the story in one place, read our article on Creon.

Apollodorus (1)

Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 2.4.6–12Amphitryon, Alcmene and the youth of HeraclesElectryon's sons are killed in a cattle raid by the Taphians, and Amphitryon accidentally kills Electryon and takes refuge at Thebes, where he wins the Teleboan war with the help of Cephalus's dog. Zeus lies with Alcmene in Amphitryon's likeness and she bears Heracles and Iphicles; the infant Heracles strangles the serpents Hera sends. Heracles is taught by several masters, kills the lion of Cithaeron after fathering children by Thespius's fifty daughters, and defeats the Minyans of Erginus. Hera then drives him mad and he kills his children, and the Pythia at Delphi names him Heracles and sends him to serve Eurystheus.

Sophocles (34)

Sophocles, Antigone 724–780Third episode (cont.): the quarrel of father and sonThe Chorus urge both to listen, but the quarrel grows worse, and Haemon says that Antigone will not die at his side and that Creon will never see his face again before he storms out. Creon decides to spare Ismene, and to entomb Antigone alive in a rocky vault with only as much food as piety requires so that the city may escape defilement.
Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus 513–582Second episode: Creon and OedipusCreon comes in indignation because he has heard that Oedipus accuses him of treason. Oedipus, who comes from the palace, charges him with plotting with Teiresias to seize the throne and says that he must die. Creon asks what the wrong is, and in questioning shows that Teiresias did not name Oedipus in Laius' time, and Oedipus answers that he is a false friend.
Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus 800–846aThird episode (cont.): the quarrel and the seizure of AntigoneCreon tells Oedipus that his age has not given him sense, and Oedipus says that his clever speeches are no use. Creon then reveals that he has already seized one of Oedipus' daughters and sent her away, and that he will take the other. The Chorus protest and cry out for the men of Colonus to help as Creon's men drag Antigone away.
Sophocles, Antigone 1033–1114Fourth episode (cont.): Creon yieldsCreon accuses Teiresias of taking a bribe, and the seer answers with a prophecy that Creon will soon lose a child of his own body, and leaves. The Chorus remind Creon that the seer has never been wrong, and Creon, shaken, asks what to do and agrees to free Antigone and bury Polyneices.
Sophocles, Antigone 441–525Second episode: Antigone defies CreonAntigone admits her deed to Creon. She says that his decree was not made by Zeus or by justice, and that she obeyed the unwritten and lasting laws of the gods, which no mortal order can override. Creon, who will not be defeated by a woman, says that she and her sister will not escape a harsh doom.
Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus 848–886Third episode (cont.): Creon seizes OedipusCreon says that the two staffs of Oedipus will no longer support his way, and the Chorus try to stop him. Oedipus curses Creon and prays that the Sun may grant him and his race an old age such as his own. Creon declares that he will take Oedipus himself by force, and the Chorus call on the people of the land to help.
Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus 78–150Prologue (cont.): Creon brings the oracle of ApolloCreon returns with the answer of Apollo that the land is polluted and that the killers of the former king Laius must be banished or killed for their blood. Oedipus asks how Laius died, and is told that all his companions were killed except one who fled and reported that robbers attacked them. Oedipus promises to start afresh and to avenge Laius, since the killer might turn on him too, and the Priest leads the suppliants away.
Sophocles, Antigone 526–581Second episode (cont.): Ismene shares the blameIsmene is brought out and tries to claim a share in the deed, but Antigone refuses to let her. Ismene asks Creon whether he will really kill the bride of his own son, and Creon says that there are other fields for his son to plough. He orders both women taken inside.
Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus 1416–1477Exodos (cont.): Creon takes chargeCreon comes, not to mock Oedipus, but to take him inside, since the sight of such pollution should not be shown to the sun. Oedipus asks Creon to cast him out of the land, and Creon says that the god must decide. Oedipus asks him to bury Iocasta, to let him live on Cithaeron, and to care for his two daughters, and then hears them sobbing and learns that Creon has brought them.
Sophocles, Antigone 237–331First episode (cont.): the guard reports the burialA guard comes in fear to report that someone has buried the body of Polyneices, with a light covering of dust, and left no trace. Creon is furious, rejects the Chorus' suggestion that the gods are involved, accuses unnamed men and the guard himself of taking bribes, and orders him to find the culprit or face a worse punishment.
Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus 1478–1530Exodos (cont.): Oedipus and his daughters; the endOedipus weeps over his daughters and the life that awaits them, with no one to marry them, and asks Creon to care for them. Creon tells him to go into the house, and when Oedipus asks again to be sent out of the land, he says that the god must grant it, and he takes the children away from him. The Chorus end the play with the warning to call no man happy until he has passed his life free from pain.
Sophocles, Antigone 1257–1353Exodos: Creon's lamentCreon enters carrying the body of his son and blames himself for his own stubbornness. The Messenger tells him that his wife is dead as well, having killed herself and cursed him as the killer of her sons. Creon, broken, asks to be led away, and the Chorus ends the play with the lesson that wisdom is the chief part of happiness and that proud words are repaid with great blows.

22 more passages of Sophocles that name Creon

Euripides (12)

Euripides, Phoenician Women 690–747Third episode: Eteocles and Creon discuss how to defend the cityEteocles sends for Creon, who arrives at once, to discuss the war. They consider an attack, an ambush and a night raid, and Creon rejects each. He advises choosing seven captains to meet the Argive leaders at the seven gates.
Euripides, Phoenician Women 1639–1766Exodos: Antigone defies Creon; Oedipus goes into exileAntigone argues against Creon's decree, vows to bury Polyneices and refuses to marry Haemon, choosing to share her father's exile. Oedipus embraces his dead family and says that he is to die at Colonus in Athens. He bids the citizens farewell and leaves with Antigone.
Euripides, Phoenician Women 896–961Fourth episode: Teiresias demands the sacrifice of MenoeceusCreon asks Teiresias to speak, and the prophet says that Menoeceus must be sacrificed above the dragon's cave beside the springs of Dirce, to atone for the dragon's death. He says that Menoeceus is the only Sown descendant who is unmarried. Teiresias leaves, and Creon is struck silent.
Euripides, Phoenician Women 1307–1355Exodos: Creon and a Messenger bring news of the deadCreon enters, carrying the body of Menoeceus, and asks for Jocasta. The Chorus tells him that she has gone to the brothers. A Messenger arrives and tells him that both sons and Jocasta are dead.
Euripides, Phoenician Women 962–1018Fourth episode: Creon tells Menoeceus to flee; Menoeceus resolves to dieCreon refuses to give up his son and tells him to flee at once by way of Delphi and Aetolia to Dodona. Menoeceus pretends to agree and sends his father away. Alone with the Chorus, he declares that he will go to the dragon's den and die for the city.
Euripides, Phoenician Women 834–895Fourth episode: Teiresias arrives and hints at a hidden remedyTeiresias comes, led by his daughter, and Creon helps him to a seat. He tells how he has just given the Athenians victory over Eumolpus. He says that the troubles of Thebes began with Laius, and hints that there is one way to save the city, but says that he will not tell it.
Euripides, Heracles 1–59Prologue: Amphitryon explains the plight of Heracles' familyAmphitryon, who shared a wife with Zeus and is the father of Heracles, tells how he came to Thebes, where Creon gave his daughter Megara to Heracles. He says that Heracles has gone to Hades to bring back the hound of hell, and that in his absence Lycus has killed Creon and seized power, and that he now threatens to kill Megara, her sons and Amphitryon, who sit as suppliants at the altar of Zeus the Saviour.
Euripides, Phoenician Women 1584–1638Exodos: Creon banishes Oedipus and forbids burial of PolyneicesCreon tells Oedipus that Eteocles made him ruler and that Teiresias has said that Oedipus must leave. Oedipus laments his fate and says that he will not beg. Creon orders that Polyneices be cast out unburied, on pain of death for anyone who buries him.
Euripides, Suppliants 399–464Second episode: the Theban Herald and Theseus debate tyranny and democracyThe Herald of Creon asks for the despot of the land, and Theseus answers that the city is not ruled by one man but is free, and the people rule. The Herald replies that his own city is ruled by one man, not by the mob, and that the people can be deceived by clever speakers, and Theseus answers that a tyrant is the enemy of a city, and that under a free city the poor and the rich have equal justice.
Euripides, Suppliants 634–730Messenger speech: Theseus defeats the ThebansA Messenger, servant of Capaneus, who escaped captivity, tells the Chorus that Theseus has won a victory and that the Athenians are safe. He describes how, from a tower at Electra's gate, he watched the armies draw up, and how the herald of Theseus called on the Thebans to be still, and Creon would not let his herald answer, so that the chariots charged and the battle was joined, and Theseus drove the Thebans back to their walls.
Euripides, Phoenician Women 748–783Third episode: Eteocles posts the seven captains and forbids burial of PolyneicesEteocles agrees to set captains at the gates, and renews the betrothal of Antigone to Haemon. He asks Creon to send Menoeceus for Teiresias. He orders that Polyneices must be left unburied if he wins, and prays to Caution.
Euripides, Phoenician Women 1–87Prologue: Jocasta tells the story of the house of OedipusJocasta tells how Laius ignored the oracle and begot Oedipus, who killed his father at the crossroads and married her after solving the Sphinx's riddle. She says that Oedipus blinded himself when he learned the truth, and that his sons shut him in the palace and he curses them. Eteocles refused to give up the throne after a year, and Polyneices has come with an Argive army, but she has arranged a meeting under truce.

Diodorus Siculus (1)

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.8.1–4.10.7Heracles: birth and early deedsThe historian begins with the difficulty of reporting Heracles' deeds worthily and with the claim that myth should not be scrutinised too sharply. He traces the hero's descent from Perseus and Zeus, tells how Hera delays the birth of Heracles so that Eurystheus is born first, and how Heracles as a baby strangles the two serpents she sends. As a young man he frees Thebes from the tribute owed to Erginus king of the Minyans, kills Erginus, burns the palace of the Minyans and razes the city of the Orchomenians, and marries Megara, daughter of Creon.

Pausanias (1)

Pausanias, Description of Greece 9.10.1–6Thebes: the Ismenian Apollo and the fountain of AresPausanias describes the great sepulchre near the gate for those who fell against Alexander, and the place where Cadmus is said to have sown the dragon's teeth. He then describes the hill of Apollo Ismenius, with the Pronai statues of Athena and Hermes and a cedar image like that at Branchidae, which he attributes to Canachus. He mentions Manto's seat, the statues of Creon's daughters, the annual boy priest called Laurel-bearer and the tripod of Amphitryo. He ends with the fountain of Ares, the grave of Caanthus, who tried to rescue Melia from Apollo, and Apollo's sons Tenerus and Ismenius.