Source Verification: Creon

Every claim below is either what a named ancient source attests, in its own line or section, or a point where the sources themselves disagree.

What the Sources Attest

What is the story of Creon?

Creon is the brother of Jocasta who holds the throne of Thebes at each crisis of the royal house. He succeeds Laius, offers Jocasta as the prize for solving the Sphinx's riddle, and rules again after Eteocles and Polynices die. In Sophocles he forbids burial for Polynices, condemns Antigone, and then loses Haemon and Eurydice. The same name belongs to a king of Corinth in the Medea story.

Source: Apollodorus, Library 3.7.1

Who is Creon to Medea?

He is the king of Corinth who betrothed his daughter Glauce to Jason, which ended Jason's marriage to Medea. Euripides has him order Medea into exile with her children. Apollodorus says Glauce and her father both died in the fire from Medea's poisoned robe. This is a different man from the Theban Creon, whom no source checked here connects to Medea.

Source: Apollodorus, Library 1.9.28

What did Creon do to Oedipus?

The passages checked here show Creon acting for Oedipus, not against him. In Euripides, Creon proclaims the marriage that goes to whoever solves the Sphinx's riddle, and Oedipus solves it and takes the throne. Apollodorus has Creon hold the kingdom before the Sphinx arrives. The two men are brothers-in-law by that marriage, and Creon is also Oedipus's uncle.

Source: Euripides, Phoenissae 45-50

Was Creon a king or only a regent?

The sources differ. Sophocles treats him as the ruling king after the brothers' deaths. Apollodorus says that when Eteocles and Polynices fell, the kingdom passed to Laodamas, son of Eteocles, and Creon held power as his regent and guardian. Pausanias also calls him guardian of Laodamas. Creon is thus a king in the play and a guardian in the prose accounts.

Source: Apollodorus, Library 3.7.3

Where Accounts Differ

who Creon forbids to be buried
Creon as king or regent
two kings named Creon

Whom Creon forbids to be buried differs by source. Sophocles, Antigone 21-38, has him forbid burial to Polynices alone. Apollodorus, Library 3.7.1, says he cast out all the Argive dead unburied, and Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.39.2, has him refuse the relatives of those who went against Thebes.
Creon's office differs by source. Sophocles treats him as the king after the war. Apollodorus, Library 3.7.3, says he was regent and guardian of Laodamas, son of Eteocles, and Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.39.2, also calls him Laodamas's guardian.
The sources checked here use the name Creon for two kings. Apollodorus, Library 3.5.8, makes Creon, son of Menoeceus, king of Thebes. Apollodorus, Library 1.9.28, makes Creon king of Corinth and father of Glauce.

Sources

Primary sources

Apollodorus, Library 1.9.28
Apollodorus, Library 3.5.8
Apollodorus, Library 3.7.1
Apollodorus, Library 3.7.3
Euripides, Phoenissae 45-50
Euripides, Phoenissae 834-959
Euripides, Medea 271-276
Sophocles, Antigone 21-38
Sophocles, Antigone 773-780
Sophocles, Antigone 988-1090
Sophocles, Antigone 1064-1076
Sophocles, Antigone 1192-1240
Sophocles, Antigone 1301-1305
Sophocles, Antigone 1348-1353
Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.39.2
Pausanias, Description of Greece 9.25.1