Polynices (or Polyneices) was the elder son of Oedipus and Jocasta, and so the brother of Eteocles. According to Aeschylus, in his drama Seven Against Thebes, Polynices was quarrelsome from birth, the very opposite of the 'nice' Eteocles. In view of this, and Polynices' belligerence, it is not surprising to find that his name means 'much strife', from polys, 'much' and neicos, 'quarrel', 'strife'. He married Argia, who bore him Thersander.
