The Epigoni were the sons of dead heroes who gathered in Argos to avenge their fathers during the second war against Thebes. Apollodorus listed nine sons including Aegialeus and Alcmaeon as leaders of this group while Pausanias added Polydorus and Timeas.
Ten years had passed since the first war began its cycle of bloodshed before the Epigoni fought the second war. Herodotus referenced the epic poem about these events as early as the fifth century BCE.
Statues of the Epigoni stood at Argos honoring their fathers' legacy near temples dedicated to gods like Apollo. Another set of statues existed at Delphi according to Pausanias travel writings where travelers could see them carved into marble or bronze forms.
Alcmaeon led the Epigoni into battle when the Delphic oracle promised victory if he commanded them. Pausanias recorded that Thersander became king instead of Alcmaeon leading the charge but Apollodorus claimed Alcmaeon led the army.
Only fragments survive from Sophocles tragedy titled Epigoni discovered through papyrology research and an additional fragment appeared in 2005 during a scholarly excavation. Most of the text remains missing despite efforts to reconstruct it while scholars continue searching for new pieces among ancient scrolls and inscriptions.