Statius’ Theseus: Martial or Merciful?

The final book of Statius’ Thebaid brings a type of closure previously unknown in the classical epic tradition. Of the figures who dominate the poem in the previous books, the warring brothers Eteocles and Polynices have ended their quarrel in death, and the great heroes who accompanied Polynices have likewise perished or fled the field. Book 12 then sees the emergence of Creon as new ruler of Thebes, his edict forbidding burial of the Argive dead, and the vindication of the Argive women’s burial rights by the Athenian Theseus. Although Theseus appears only in the last book, he nevertheless plays a significant role in the poem as the last political leader standing, who brings order to Thebes and Argos. Some critics have discerned within his defeat of Creon and vindication of Argive burial rites the portrait of an ideal king, possibly with Stoic virtues, in contrast to the tyrannical figures who dominate the previous books.1 Others, however, have called attention to aspects of Theseus’ character that complicate this picture,2 pointing out that Theseus shows a strange eagerness for war, that he is compared to other destructive and malevolent figures,3 that his search for vengeance brings fresh killing,4 and that he may share in a madness prevalent in the poem.5 In this note, I examine two central elements of Statius’ representation of Theseus: his resemblance to the god Mars and his differences from the Altar of Clementia located in his kingdom in Athens. Neither those who argue for Theseus as a just king nor those who have raised doubts about this picture have fully explored these correspondences. This examination will demonstrate that Theseus is identified with Mars and contrasted with the Altar to a greater extent than has yet been recognized. It will