Antigone's brother, Polyneices, was killed in battle against his own brother, Eteocles, as they fought for control of the city of Thebes. After their deaths, their uncle Creon, who had assumed the throne, declared that Polyneices was a traitor and forbade anyone from burying him, under penalty of death. Antigone defied this order and buried her brother, leading to her own tragic fate.
