a son of Oedipus and Jocasta. After his father's death he agreed to share the royalty alternately with his brother Polynices, but at the expiry of the first year he refused to surrender the throne. Polynices, summoning Adrastus, king of Argos, to his aid, headed the famous expedition of the Seven against Thebes. After a series of unavailing skirmishes, it was at last agreed between the two brothers that the war should be decided by single combat. An encounter ensued, and both combatants fell; and so fierce was their resentment, that according to tradition their ashes refused to mingle on the funeral pile.