Antigone is a tragic heroine in the mythological tale of the same name, written by the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles around 441 BCE. In the play, Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta, and the sister of Ismene, Eteocles, and Polynices. The central conflict of the play arises when Antigone defies her uncle Creon, the king of Thebes, who has ordered that Polynices' body should be left unburied as punishment for his treason. Antigone, believing that divine law supersedes human law, chooses to bury her brother, leading to her eventual demise. The name "Antigone" translates to "opponent in the front" or "foremost in opposition" in Greek, reflecting her defiant character. In Hebrew, the name is transliterated as אנטיגונה (Antiguna). The play is a classic exploration of themes such as civil disobedience, familial loyalty, and the conflict between divine law and human law. In other languages, the name is translated as Antígona in Spanish, Antigone in French, Antigone in Italian, and Antigone in German.
Daughter of Oedipus in Greek mythology
In Greek mythology, Antigone was a Theban princess and a character in several ancient Greek tragedies. She was the daughter of Oedipus, king of Thebes; her mother/grandmother was either Jocasta or, in another variation of the myth, Euryganeia. She was the sister of Polynices, Eteocles, and Ismene.