Adrastus
（
Ἄδραστος).
1.
Son of Talaüs of Argos. Being expelled from Argos by Amphiaraüs, he fled
to Polybus, king of Sicyon, whom he succeeded on the throne of Sicyon, and instituted the
Nemean games. Afterwards he became reconciled to Amphiaraüs, and returned to his
kingdom of Argos. He married his two daughters Deïpylé and Argia, the
former to Tydeus of Calydon, and the latter to Polynices of Thebes, both fugitives from their
native countries. He then prepared to restore Polynices to Thebes, who had been expelled by
his brother Eteocles, although
Amphiaraüs (q.v.) foretold that all who should engage in the war would
perish, with the exception of Adrastus. Thus arose the celebrated war of the “Seven
against Thebes,” in which Adrastus was joined by six other heroes, viz., Polynices,
Tydeus, Amphiaraüs, Capaneus, Hippomedon, and Parthenopaeus. This war ended as
unfortunately as Amphiaraüs had predicted, and Adrastus alone was saved by the
swiftness of his horse Arion , the gift of Heracles. Ten years afterwards, Adrastus persuaded
the six sons of the heroes who had fallen in the war to make a new attack upon Thebes, and
Amphiaraüs now promised success. This war is known as the war of the Epigoni
(
ἐπίγονοι), or descendants. Thebes was taken and razed to
the ground. The only Argive hero that fell in this war was Aegialeus, the son of Adrastus:
the latter died of grief at Megara on his return to Argos, and was buried in the former city.
The legends about Adrastus and the two wars against Thebes furnished ample materials for the
epic as well as tragic poets of Greece.
2.
Son of the Phrygian king Gordius, having unintentionally killed his brother, fled to
Croesus, who received him kindly. While hunting, he accidentally killed Atys, the son of
Croesus, and in despair put an end to his own life.
