Abstract

ALFONZO, Bruno D.. Fratricide: Epic Background and Tragic Directions of a Topic Re-emphasized in the Figure of the Oedipus’ Exile in Euripides’ Phoenissae. Nova tellus [online]. 2021, vol.39, n.1, pp.45-70.  Epub May 05, 2021. ISSN 0185-3058.  https://doi.org/10.19130/iifl.nt.2021.39.1.27543.

The following work deals with fratricide as a topic in Western cul­ture and its role in literature from the different approaches in modern times. ­The paper focuses on the delimitation of the topic within Greek literature through the evolution of Oedipus’ offspring’, from Archaic Greek epic to tragedy. Thus, it starts contrasting the mythical elements that both, epic and tragedy, display as a support of each story. My hypothesis is fratricide of Eteocles and Polynices becomes a punishment to Oedipus through his exile, and that its consummation is in Euripides’ Phoenissae, which I conclude through a comparative study of the sources.

Keywords : Fratricide; Oedipus; Greek Tragedy; Exile; Euripides.