Laodamas (King of Thebes)
Laodamas ( Greek Λαοδάμας ), son of Eteocles , is a king of Thebes in Greek mythology .
Accession to the throne of Laodama
During the reign of Eteocles over Thebes, the march of the seven against Thebes took place. Eteocles, Laodama's father, managed to repel the attackers. The last time there was a duel between him and his brother Polynices , in which they killed each other. Since Laodamas was still an underage child at that time, he was under Creon , his great-uncle, guardianship. However, Creon was murdered by Lycus , who in turn took control of Thebes. When Heracles killed Lycus, Laodamas was finally able to ascend the throne of Thebes himself.
Epigone
During Laodama's reign there was another campaign against Thebes, the epigone of the descendants ( epigones ) of the seven against Thebes . These first devastated the villages around Thebes. Laodamas advanced towards them and a fight broke out on the Glisas river . Laodamas killed the son of Adrastus, Aigialeus , but was in turn slain by Alkmaion . According to another legend, he escaped to the fortified city after a battle was lost. The seer Teiresias advised the Thebans to negotiate peace. So he handed the city over to the Argeians and moved with the rest of the army to Illyria to the Encheleans , a dynasty that descended from Kadmos . There the Thebans founded the city of Hestiaia .
The Argeier gave control of Thebes to Thersandros , the son of Polynices.
swell
- Libraries of Apollodorus , 3, 83.
- Herodotus , Histories , 4, 138.
- Pausanias , traveling in Greece , 1, 39, 2; 9, 5, 13; 9, 8, 6; 9, 9, 5.
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| Lycus |
King of Thebes 13th century BC Chr. (Fictional chronology) |
Thersandros |