There were quite a few kings of Thebes. Cadmus was its founder. He was the brother of Europa, who Zeus carried away. Their father told him and his two brothers to find her, but the gods told Cadmus that she was happy and should find the city. He sent a man to get water, but didn't return. He sent more and more men, each not returning, until he was the only one left and decided to go see for himself. A dragon had devoured his men, and he quickly killed it. Athena told him that he should take the dragon's teeth and sow them, which he did. Bloodthirsty soldiers sprang up, and Athena told him to throw a rock at them. When he did, they turned on each other, killing each other until only five were left. Cadmus tended to the injuries of those, and they became loyal to him, helping him construct the city.
Another notable king is Oedipus, who was prophecized at birth to kill his father and marry his mother, so his father, Laius, sent him to die. But the servant took pity on the child and took him to another kingdom, where the king and queen, childless, gladly took him as their own. Oedipus, when he grew up, heard the prophecy and feared killing his "father", so went away. On his journey, he killed a lord and his party of servants when they made him mad. He outwitted the Sphinx, which sat outside of Thebes, making her kill herself.
Oedipus was made king and married Jocasta, the queen of Thebes. Then a famine came to the city, and they were told that only when the killer of their old king, Laius, was brought to justice would th famine end. A surviving servant of the party came and said Oedipus was the one who could Laius, and Oedipus blinded himself, and his daughter Antigone came with him on his travels.
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The Queen of Thebes is a character in Greek mythology. Jocasta, the wife and mother of Oedipus was a Queen of Thebes.
Cadmus was the founder of Thebes, his wife was Harmonia; from them and the Sparti (Ekhion, Oudaios, Khthonios, Hyperenor, Perloros) descended the Houses of Thebes.
In "Antigone" by Sophocles, the new king of Thebes is Creon, the uncle of Antigone and Ismene.
Megara was in ancient Greek mythology the princess of city of Thebes. She was the oldest of Creos, the king of Thebes. Creon offered Megara to Hercules in exchange for defending the city of Thebes.
the former king of Thebes
If I remember correctly, Thebes was being threatened by a Sphinx and no one had been able to answer the riddle it required to leave them alone. Anyone who attempted to answer and failed was killed by the Sphinx. Oedipus said he would try to answer the riddle because he wanted to free the people of Thebes and obtain the reward the king was offering.
The address of the Thebes Historical Society is: 24995 Diswood Road, Thebes, IL 62990
Cadmus founded thebes.