Read the excerpt from "the royal house of thebes." there were seven champions to attack the seven gates of thebes, and seven others within as bold to defend them. eteocles defended the gate which polyneices attacked, and antigone and ismene within the palace waited to hear which had killed the other. but before any decisive combat had taken place, a youth in thebes not yet grown to manhood had died for his country and in his death had shown himself the noblest of all. this was creon's younger son, menoeceus. how does the archetype presented in the excerpt support the universal theme of loyalty to one's country? antigone and ismene act cowardly by hiding inside the castle, but it proves their loyalty. the warrior polyneices attacks eteocles, which proves he is loyal to his country. eteocles defends thebes against his own brother, proving his loyalty. creon kills his son, which shows that he demands loyalty.