Thebaid (Greek poem) facts for kids
The Thebaid (say "Thee-bay-id") is an ancient Greek epic poem. An epic poem is a long story poem about heroes and big adventures. This poem told the exciting tale of a war between two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices. It was part of a group of stories called the Theban Cycle, which were all about the city of Thebes.
What is the Thebaid?
The Thebaid is a very old poem from Ancient Greece. It's called an "epic" because it's a long, serious story about brave heroes and important events. Think of it like a very long song or story that was told over many days.
The poem told the story of a big war. This war happened between two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices. They were fighting over who would rule the city of Thebes. Sadly, most of the poem has been lost over time, so we only have small pieces of it left.
Who Wrote the Thebaid?
We don't know for sure who wrote the Thebaid. Some people in ancient times, like the poet Callinus and the historian Herodotus, thought that the famous poet Homer might have written it. Homer is known for writing other famous epic poems like the Iliad and the Odyssey.
However, other ancient writers called the authors of poems like the Thebaid "Cyclic poets". This means they were part of a group of poets who wrote stories that connected to each other, forming a "cycle" or series of tales.
The Story of Thebes
The Thebaid was part of a larger collection of stories known as the Theban Cycle. These stories were all about the myths and legends of the city of Thebes. They included tales of its heroes, kings, and the many challenges the city faced. The Thebaid focused on one of the most dramatic parts of Theban history: the conflict between the two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices.
See also
- Thebaid (Latin poem) - A different epic poem with a similar name, written in Latin much later.
