The Seven against Thebes in Greek art.

This is a study of the Seven against Thebes in ancient Greek art of all media, from its first appearance in the seventh century through the fourth century B.C. While Greek painted pottery provides the largest source of material, the subject does appear in a broad range of media. The cycle of myths surrounding the battle of the Seven against Thebes was a mainstay of Greek literature, but achieved only a limited importance in the visual arts. The literary, political or social influences which led Greek artists to select particular myths may be easier to study in such rarer themes, because of their relative isolation in the artistic tradition. The small body of objects and relatively large collection of literary sources associated with the Seven against Thebes therefore makes it ideally suited for considering the implications in the selection of a particular myth. The study begins with a consideration of the development of the myth in the literature of the Archaic and Classical periods. Precise criteria for the identification of the various episodes are then developed. Finally factors are considered which might have led to the selection of various episodes at particular times. While these factors differ in each instance, the Seven against Thebes generally follows the same trends which can be seen in Greek art as a whole. In the Archaic Period there is a preference for martial themes, while in the Classical Period there is a growth in interest in the domestic side of life. Fourth century Southern Italy shows a preference for theatrical motifs. While the myth is rare in public dedications, in the Archaic Period the myth seems to have been associated with the founding of the Nemean games and a general anti-Sikyonian attitude in the Peloponnese. In the Classical Period, there may be a connection between the Seven and the Epigonoi, and the aristocratic party in Argos. The story of Theseus' role in the burial of the Seven also has strong patriotic implications in fifth century Athens.Ph.D.Classical literatureCommunication and the ArtsFine artsLanguage, Literature and LinguisticsUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/128549/2/9034375.pd