The suppliants

            Kreon, who had climbed to the throne of Thebes after the death of Eteocles in the battle against the seven generals from Argos (Seven against Thebes), denied the delivery of the bodies of the dead generals to their relatives and he forbade the burial of the dead. The mothers of the generals arrive to Athens in the palace of king Theseus to beg him to contact Kreon and persuade him to deliver the bodies of the dead according to the ancient inviolable Greek law. Theseus decides to help and he prepares his army, in case that Kreon does not respond to his demands. As predicted Kreon denies to deliver the bodies and the inevitable war starts. Theseus is victorious and the bodies are honorably buried.

            At the end of the play the wife of one dead general is voluntarily burned along with her husband. Goddess Athena appears and advises Theseus to ask from the king of Argos to give him an oath of eternal friendship to Athens and asks from the sons of the dead generals to take revenge from Thebes for the death of their parents.