Mythological heroes on Czech stages and politics: the case of Phaethon and Antigone.

This article examines the political significance of two Czech dramatic adaptations of ancient Greek myths: *Phaethon* (1917) by Otakar Theer and *The Whore from the City of Thebes* (1967) by Milan Uhde, a paraphrase of Sophocles' *Antigone*. *Phaethon* allegorically expressed Czech resistance against Austro-Hungarian rule during World War I, using poetic metaphor to advocate rebellion and national freedom under strict censorship. In contrast, Uhde’s play, created under the totalitarian communist regime of the 1960s, employs parable and apocrypha to depict societal conformity and the futility of individual dissent, reflecting the pervasive oppression and moral compromise of that era. Both plays utilize mythological frameworks and stylized language to communicate covert political messages appropriate to their distinct historical and cultural contexts, illustrating how Czech theatre has historically used classical myths as vehicles for political expression under repressive regimes.