Editing Eteocles (section)

==Quarrel over Thebes==
There are several accounts of how Eteocles and Polynices shared the rule after Oedipus's departure from the city.  In [[Hellanicus of Lesbos|Hellanicus]]'s account, Eteocles offers his brother his choice of either the rule of the city or a share of the property.  In [[Pherecydes of Athens|Pherecydes]], however, Eteocles expels Polynices by force, and keeps the rule of Thebes and the inheritance. The ''[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Bibliotheca]]'' and [[Diodorus]] state that the brothers agree to divide the kingship between them, switching each year. Eteocles, however, was allotted the first year, and refused to surrender the crown.<ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], 3.6.1</ref>

In all of these versions, Polynices gathered the support of the [[Argives]] and attacked Thebes, in the war of [[Seven against Thebes]], the subject of [[Aeschylus]]' tragedy ''[[Seven Against Thebes]]''. Although Eteocles's forces were victorious, the brothers killed each other.<ref name=EB1911/>