According to the Chorus, what was the cause of Polyneices’s defeat? His fight against his brother angered the gods.

He did not have the military strength to conquer Thebes.

His arrogance and pride angered the gods.

He was not the rightful king.

His arrogance and pride angered the gods.

Explanation:

Sophocles's Antigone tells the story of when the two princes Polyneices and his brother Eteocles fought against each other for the throne of Thebes. And the brave decision of Antigone in disobeying the decree of King Creon and burying her brother's corpse led to the fateful ending of the characters but upholding the true nature of family ties.

The Chorus is a group of elderly men who are respected and their decisions accepted easier than others. They represent the older and wiser opinions and regarded as more trustworthy. And according to them, the cause of Polyneices's death is his arrogance and pride in his own abilities, which they think angered the gods. Their statement

"Polyneices their commander

Roused them with windy phrases,

He the wild eagle screaming

Insults above our land"

which led to his death

"For God hates utterly

The bray of bragging tongues".

the roman empire began to fall