Synopsis
Thebes has endured a ruinous civil war as a result of the rivalry between two brothers - Polyneices and Eteocles. Each sought absolute power at the other's expense and each found death at his brother's hand. Creon, ruler and uncle of the two dead warlords, issues an edict that Eteocles be buried with military honours and that Polyneices be denied a final resting place. He makes a proclamation that anyone found burying Polyneices will be put to death. Antigone, sister of the two dead brothers, is prepared to pay that price. She is caught red-handed and sentenced to death by live entombment. She takes her own life and Haemon, her lover, crazed by her death, falls on his sword beside her.