By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Jocasta, realising the awful truth, returned to the royal palace, where she hanged herself. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Smith, William. He asked them for a description of the former king, and where the killing took place, and his worst fears were confirmed. Homer related that Oedipuss wife and mother hanged herself when the truth of their relationship became known, though Oedipus apparently continued to rule at Thebes until his death. Euripides: Oedipus is a character in the Phoenician Women (409 BCE), which, like Aeschylus Seven against Thebes, describes the conflict between Oedipus sons, Eteocles and Polyneices. He solved the riddle of the Sphinx. The people were so grateful that they made him King. Jocasta, hearing this, realised that the prophecy all of it had come true. The line of succession was not clear, and Polynices and Eteocles started quarreling about their claim to the throne. Oedipus represents two enduring themes of Greek myth and drama: the flawed nature of humanity and an individual's role in the course of destiny in a harsh universe. He was a strangely popular figure in the 1960s, a decade that saw the release of at least two films based on the Oedipus myth: Oedipus Rex (1967), from Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini, and Oedipus the King (1968), starring Christopher Plummer in the titular role. Hello, I have read somewhere (and I cannot remember where exactly) that the reason why the oracle did the initial prediction is because Laius previously had sex with a man, and that the oracle wanted to punish Laius and his offsprings for this. This is how his name was chosen, as Oedipus means "swollen foot". When the seer Teiresias revealed Oedipus' horrible crimes - patricide, regicide and incest, no less - Oedipus was forced to abdicate. How did Oedipus become king of Thebes? Seven against Thebes tells of how Oedipus sons, Eteocles and Polyneices, destroyed one another in war. Our actions have consequences, but that doesnt mean that a particular action will lead to a particular consequence: it means that one action might cause something quite different to happen, which will nevertheless be linked in some way to our lives. Section 6: Oedipus the King, lines 338-706, Section 8: Oedipus the King, lines 1008-1310, Section 9: Oedipus the King, lines 1311-1684, Section 10: Oedipus at Colonus, lines 1-576, Section 11: Oedipus at Colonus, lines 577-1192, Section 12: Oedipus at Colonus, lines 1193-1645, Section 13: Oedipus at Colonus, lines 1646-2001. Edmunds, Lowell. Pindar: Oedipus is mentioned very briefly in the second Olympian Ode (476 BCE). The city's fortunes wavered between independence and subjugation. (well say why this is the solution later on; there was also another riddle posed by the Sphinx in some alternative versions of the Oedipus myth, which asks, ). As soon as Oedipus solved the riddle, the Sphinx killed herself by leaping from her cliff. When the Sphinx saw Oedipus, she presented her riddle as always, usually quoted as: What is that which has one voice and yet becomes four-footed and two-footed and three-footed?[14]. The messages they impart are therefore timeless and universal, and this helps to explain why, more than two millennia after they were first written down, they remain such an important influence on Western culture. Pausanias, Description of Greece 9.26.3. The myth of Oedipus has also been adapted for the arts. Thank you ! He says that the plague has affected him more strongly than it has affected the people appealing to him by saying that he grieves for the entire city instead of just having to worry about himself. This man, her husband, was her biological son. She works as the chief editor of Symbol Sage but also takes the time to write on topics that interest her. In his Odyssey, Homer calls her Epicaste. When Oedipus is born, Laius ties his hands and feet and leaves him on a mountainside to die. Learn more about our mission. 4 What caused the downfall of Oedipus in Oedipus the King pride or anger? In the course of the fight, Oedipus kills Laius. How did Oedipus become king of thebes? The murderer, said Tiresias, will be revealed to be both brother and father to his children, and son and husband to his mother. The name Oedipus is derived from the Greek verb oide, meaning to swell, and the noun pous, meaning foot. Oedipus name thus translates to he who has a swollen foot. This etymology is reflected in the myth that Oedipus ankles were pierced when he was abandoned as a baby.[1]. While this confident expedience was laudable in the first section, it is exaggerated to a point of near absurdity in the second. His children were Antigone, Ismene, Polynices and Eteocles. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. So we describe somebodys weakness as their Achilles heel, or we talk about the dangers of opening up Pandoras box. In some depictions, this character was also the shepherd who took Oedipus to King Polybus court. Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud chose the term Oedipus complex to designate a sons feeling of love toward his mother and of jealousy and hate toward his father, although those were not emotions that motivated Oedipuss actions or determined his character in any ancient version of the story. He says, "Do you know the family you come from?/Without your knowledge you've become/the enemy of your own kindred/those in the world below and those up here/and the dreadful feet of that two-edged curse/ from father and mother both will drive you/from this land in exile. Homer, Odyssey 11.271ff; cf. Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus; Apollodorus, Library 3.5.9; Hyginus, Fabulae 67, where Oedipus flees from Thebes voluntarily. Watch the exchange between self-blinded Oedipus and Creon in Sophocles' Greek tragedy, From Athena to Zeus: Basics of Greek Mythology, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Oedipus-Greek-mythology, Perseus Digital Library - A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology - Oe'dipus, World History Encyclopedia - Oedipus the King, Oedipus - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). As he was leaving Delphi, Oedipus met an old man at a crossroads (often associated with a real crossroads in ancient Greece called the Triple Way or the Cleft Way). Filmed by Pier Paolo Pasolini, set to music by Igor Stravinsky and George Enescu, it was the basis of Sigmund Freuds most famous psychoanalytic theory. The Choruss supplications to the benevolent gods of lines 168244 are long past. He did not know that the man he killed was his father, or that the woman he married was his mother. His first act was to pierce the ankles of Oedipus to cripple him. But the list of extant sources for the myth of Oedipus is long and varied, often presenting versions of the myth that are radically at odds with one another. On his journey, Oedipus gets into a fight with a man, who turns out to be his father, Laius. The oracle tells Oedipus' father Laius, the King of Thebes, that his son will kill him. Oedipus, in Greek mythology, the king of Thebes who unwittingly killed his father and married his mother. But in Oedipus the King, Tiresias also serves an additional rolehis blindness augments the dramatic irony that governs the play. Discount, Discount Code Euripides, Phoenician Women 66ff; Statius, Thebaid 1.46ff. Oedipus duly became King of Thebes and married Jocasta, the widow of the previous King, Laius, who had recently died. The death of King Laius would send a plague to Thebes until his killer was made responsible. After killing the king, Oedipus continued his journey. [23] Finally, according to Homer, nothing changed at all: Oedipus continued to rule Thebes until he eventually fell in battle.[24]. Written by GreekBoston.com in Greek Mythology Ive just added the other riddle, which somehow got deleted during the formatting process. These two sisters are day and night, which give birth to each other because one follows the other. Free trial is available to new customers only. The cause of Oedipus downfall is his hamartia or mistake, which was caused by his pride and impulsiveness, his hubris. What happened to Oedipus after he discovered his crimes was much contested in antiquity. Queen Jocasta then commanded that the baby be brought to the mountains to die. for a customized plan. The spot at Colonus where he died was considered sacred. In the first scene of the play, Sophocles presents the basic social and historical axes around which he will unfold the plot. Jocasta and Oedipus had four children: Eteocles, Polynices, Antigone, and Ismene. Thus, the prophesy had come true in full and Oedipus didnt even know it. However, he was unaware of who his birth parents were so it wasnt until his life was nearing its end that heunderstood what had happened. Pherecydes, FHG 1 F 48 (reported in the scholia on Euripides Phoenician Women 53); Eustathius on Homers Iliad 4.376; scholia on Homers Iliad 4.376. When Laius learned from an oracle that he was destined to die at the hands of his son, he left the newborn Oedipus to die in the mountains. Greek history. Rose, H. J. 4 Why did Oedipus kill the old man in the Odyssey? Eventually, however, Oedipus good fortune took a dark turn. Even Julius Ceaser is known to have written a play about Oedipus, but the play hasnt survived. He was doomed. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! 1556332. A horrible realisation came over Oedipus. Enter your email address to subscribe to this site and receive notifications of new posts by email. Oedipus the King, lines 707-1007 Summary Oedipus 's wife, Jocasta, enters and convinces Oedipus that he should neither kill nor exile Creon, though the reluctant king remains convinced that Creon is guilty. The Sphinx was a creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human. Creon, the queens brother, tells Oedipus that Apollo has commanded to take revenge upon whoever killed Laius and that will put an end to the plague. Oedipus. In The Oxford Classical Dictionary, 4th ed., edited by Simon Hornblower, Antony Spawforth, and Esther Eidinow, 103334. The Choruss speech is full of images of caves, darkness, lightning, and wings, which suggest darkness, the unknown, and, most significantly, terror striking from the skies. Because of this sharp reversal in fortune, Oedipus is often remembered as the great tragic hero of Greek mythology. Answer the riddle correctly, and he would be allowed to continue to Thebes. An alternative etymology derives the name from the verb oida, to know (rather than oide, to swell), so that Oedipus name means he who knows feet. This is also related to his mythology, for the famous riddle of the Sphinx, which Oedipus solved, was about feet. In the oldest versions of the myth, he left home to go and steal horses, which isnt very noble. He therefore vowed never to return to Corinth, believing that that was where his parents lived. Gantz, Timothy. 3 Why does Oedipus feel he is the person most affected by the plague? Corrections? Oedipus and Jocasta were both horrified by this discovery. The child was named Oedipus, and was brought up as the prince of Corinth. His mother was usually named as Jocasta,[2] though ancient sources did not all agree on this name: Homer, for example, called Oedipus mother Epicasta. Read important quotes about sight and blindness by Oedipus and Tiresias. He was pronounced King of Thebes but unknowingly married his mother, Jocasta. In the tragedies, someone told Oedipus in order to insult him that he was a foundling and Polybus was not his real father. The story of King Oedipus of Thebes was an influential part of Greek mythology, which was widely covered by many famous poets and writers. When Oedipus asked Polybus about this, Polybus confirmed that he was not his biological father. Laius then had the child disposed of, either by throwing him into the sea (where he was rescued by fishermen) or by giving him to a servant to take to the mountains and leave there (where he was rescued by shepherds). Omissions? But how did this Greek myth come about? Accessed on 2 Mar. Puzzled at first, then angry, Oedipus insists that Tiresias tell Thebes what he knows. The couple had four children, including two sons, Polynices and Eteocles . Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996. In Greek mythology, Oedipus first saved the city of Thebes from a plague placed upon it by the Sphinx. However, in each of these versions it was considered a tragedy. Eventually, the homeless child came to Corinth where the king and queen didnt have children of their own. Were building the worlds most authoritative, online mythology resource, with engaging, accessible content that is both educational and compelling to read. Euripides, Phoenician Women 63ff; Statius, Thebaid 1.46ff. After all, mythology is storytelling at its finest. Oedipus the King, also called Oedipus Tyrannos or Oedipus Rex, written around 420 BC, has long been regarded not only as his nest play but also as the purest and most powerful expression of Greek tragic drama. $24.99 New York: Knopf, 1950. Two Legends: Oedipus and Theseus. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Additionally, Oedipus physically puts out his own eyes, for . 470 BCE). If we think along the same lines as the first, more famous riddle, which talks of times of day, that might help. The moral of King Midas, of course, was not that he was famed for his wealth and success, but that his greed for gold was his undoing: the story, if anything, is a warning about the dangers of corruption that money and riches can bring. The Sphinx posed riddles to people; when they failed to solve them, she ate them. Homer related that Oedipuss wife and mother hanged herself when the truth of their relationship became known, though Oedipus apparently continued to rule at Thebes until his death. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Thus, that part of the prophesy came true and he didnt even know. Tiresias declared: You are the criminal you seek! An angry Oedipus mocked the blind prophet, who responded that it was really the king who lacked vision. Contact us Oedipus asked Tiresias, the seer, who was responsible for this crime, but Tiresias reluctant to tell the truth to his king, since that would involve calling his king a murderer equivocated, but this led Oedipus to suspect that Tiresias and Creon (the man who was ruling as de facto king after Laius was killed) had plotted together to murder Laius. SparkNotes PLUS Is it really a part of the myth, or just fake news ? When the claimants admitted that they did not know the prophecy, the Sphinx killed them. Oedipus duly became King of Thebes and married Jocasta, the widow of the previous King, Laius, who had recently died. Creon, the first annual eponymous archon of Athens, 682-681 BC; Greek mythology. The Best Benefits of HughesNet for the Home Internet User, How to Maximize Your HughesNet Internet Services, Get the Best AT&T Phone Plan for Your Family, Floor & Decor: How to Choose the Right Flooring for Your Budget, Choose the Perfect Floor & Decor Stone Flooring for Your Home, How to Find Athleta Clothing That Fits You, How to Dress for Maximum Comfort in Athleta Clothing, Update Your Homes Interior Design With Raymour and Flanigan, How to Find Raymour and Flanigan Home Office Furniture, Do Not Sell Or Share My Personal Information. Homer related that Oedipus's wife and mother hanged herself when the truth of their relationship became known, though Oedipus apparently continued to rule at Thebes until his death. In Greek mythology, Oedipus first saved the city of Thebes from a plague placed upon it by the Sphinx. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% How did Oedipus became the King of Thebes? Copyright Symbol Sage 2022 All Rights Reserved. Oedipus had killed his father. A shepherd took pity on the infant, who was adopted by King Polybus of Corinth and his wife and was brought up as their son. They resolve that they will not believe any of these accusations against Oedipus unless they are shown proof. A Handbook of Greek Mythology. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. Other sources say that his son Eteocles went looking for Oedipus help to claim the throne and that Oedipus cursed him and his brother to die in their fight to be king. Before we address these questions, it might be worth recapping the story of Oedipus in the form of a brief plot summary: There are a number of different versions of the Oedipus story that have survived from the classical era. In this section, the characteristic swiftness of Oedipuss thought, words, and action begins to work against him. Once Oedipus was an adult, he learned from the oracle at Delphi that he would kill his father and commit incest with his mother. When Oedipus was exiled, his sons did not oppose it; for this, Oedipus cursed them, saying that each would die at the hands of the other, fighting for the throne. Oedipus claims that he longs to know the truth; Tiresias says that seeing the truth only brings one pain. He solved the riddle of the Sphinx. Oedipus visited an oracle when he was older and was told that he would kill his father and have children with his mother. Kapach, Avi. Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, Sweden. Years later, Oedipus was told by a drunk man that he was a bastard, meaning that his parentage wasnt what he thought. Oedipus, in Greek mythology, the king of Thebes who unwittingly killed his father and married his mother. Character Analysis 10. Oedipus solved the riddle, and the Sphinx killed herself. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Oedipus is a man of swift action and great insight. In the most familiar version, first attested in Sophocles tragedy Oedipus Tyrannus, Oedipus downfall all began with a plague. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. When the citizens of Thebes beg him to do something about the plague, for example, Oedipus is one step ahead of themhe has already sent Creon to the . The monster presented a riddle given by the muses to those who tried to pass and devoured those who failed to answer. Oedipus would seek answers as to why Thebes was being punished, but the truth only emerged when King Polybus died, and Periboea revealed that Oedipus was adopted. What are they?). What was the major argument between King Oedipus and the blind prophet Tiresias? In the epic cycle of poems about him, Oedipus remained on the throne until he died in a war against Erginus and the Minyans, presumably before they became little yellow creatures wearing blue overalls in Pixar films. The Cults and the Legend of Oedipus. Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 85 (1981): 22138. Robert S. P. Beekes, Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden: Brill, 2009), 1054. The king criticizes Tiresiass powers wildly and insults his blindness, but Tiresias only responds that the insults will eventually be turned on Oedipus by all of Thebes. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. However, the riddle she poses to Oedipus (what goes on four legs in the morning, two legs at midday, and three legs in the evening?) is solved by our hero, who gives her the correct response, man (well say why this is the solution later on; there was also another riddle posed by the Sphinx in some alternative versions of the Oedipus myth, which asks, There are two sisters: one gives birth to the other and she, in turn, gives birth to the first. Thebes is menaced rather than protected by the heavens. A Stranger from Corinth.. A Shepherd of King Laus.. A Messenger from the Palace. Cf. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. The cause was religious pollution: Laius, the previous king and husband of Jocasta, had been murdered while travelling and the culprit had never been caught. Oedipus Rex Characters. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Jocasta eventuallyabandoned the son to the mountains, thinking that he would perish. The ancient story has intense dramatic appeal; through Seneca the theme was transmitted to a long succession of playwrights, including Pierre Corneille, John Dryden, and Voltaire. Perseus Digital Library. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 Distraught, she hanged herself, and Oedipus, in horror at what he had done, blinded himself. At the opening of Oedipus the King, we see that these qualities make him an excellent ruler who anticipates his subjects' needs. Ive also linked to a previous post where I discussed this lesser-known alternative riddle! We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Homer: Oedipus is briefly mentioned in both the Iliad and the Odyssey (eighth century BCE), where his mother is called Epicasta rather than Jocasta. When Oedipus is born, Laius ties his hands and feet and leaves him on a mountainside to die. Sophocles merely dramatized a story that had already been part of the peoples existing mythology, but his version was one of the more popular. (Tradition has it that his name, which means Swollen-Foot, was a result of his feet having been pinned together, but modern scholars are skeptical of that etymology.) Doh! You'll also receive an email with the link. What he did not know was that the man was none other than Laius, the king of Thebes and his real father.[12]. Both Creon and the leader of the Chorus try to get Oedipus to understand that hes concocting fantasies, but Oedipus is resolute in his conclusions and his fury. As remarked above, there are numerous versions of the Oedipus story from classical civilisation: plays, poems, and other artistic depictions. Oedipus would grow as a son of Polybus, who was childless, and would live his life with them. The two quarreled, the argument grew heated, and Oedipus ended up killing the old man. When Oedipus answered the Sphinx correctly, the Sphinx killed itself. How to Market Your Business with Webinars. This was the correct answer. Red-figure Kylix from Vulci showing Oedipus and the Sphinx. See Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus 711ff; Euripides, Phoenician Women 13ff; Diodorus of Sicily, Library of History 4.64.12; Pausanias, Description of Greece 9.5.10, 10.5.3; Apollodorus, Library 3.5.7; Hyginus, Fabulae 66; etc. Sophocles. 8 CE). Perhaps the ultimate hubris is in thinking one can cheat the gods. Have you heard about this before ? But the messenger then confirms that Polybus wife was not Oedipus biological mother and he was a foundling. In despair, the sphinx killed herself, and Oedipus received the throne and the hand of Queen Jocasta for freeing the city of the sphinx. The people were so grateful that they made him King. Thebes is experiencing a plague. Authors such as Voltaire and musicians such as Stravinsky wrote based on Oedipus myths. The oracle tells Oedipus father Laius, the King of Thebes, that his son will kill him. [13] Ever since Laius death (by Oedipus), the Sphinx had been terrorizing Thebes by sitting on a cliff outside the city and putting a riddle to any Theban who passed by. Finally, a companion of Laius, who had survived the conflict, shared the story of what had happened. Oedipus, in Greek mythology, the king of Thebes who unwittingly killed his father and married his mother. But Oedipus had learned the prophecy in a dream and was able to answer his half-sister. Oedipus appears as a cultural figure not only in Greece, but also in Albania, Cyprus, and Finland. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Oedipus, curious to know more, summoned the blind prophet Tiresias, whose reluctance to speak made Oedipus suspect him. He had thus fulfilled the prophecy, despite his best efforts to avoid it. Scholia on Sophocles Oedipus at Colonus 91. You can view our. Oedipus soon discovered, however, that the old man he had killed on his travels was none other than his true father, Laius, and that the woman he had married was his mother, Jocasta. He hoped to discover the cause of the plague that afflicted the city and sent his brother, Creon, to consult the Oracle at Delphi. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In the tragedians version of the tale, it is Oedipus hubris, his pride, that contributes to the altercation on the road between him and Laius, the man who turns out to be his real father: if Oedipus was less stubborn, he would have played the bigger man and stepped aside to let Laius pass. The Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud coined the termOedipus complexto refer to the sexual love a son could feel towards his mother and the jealousy and hatred he would develop against his father. In many plays a character could have a misconception of his or her world. She holds a Masters degree in Linguistics and Education, and has also studied Political Science, Ancient History and Literature. Oedipus died at Colonus near Athens, where he was swallowed into the earth and became a guardian hero of the land. In some traditions, Oedipus was sent into exile by either his brother-in-law (and uncle) Creon or by his own sons, Eteocles and Polyneices. Oedipus was the son of King Laius of Thebes and Queen Jocasta. Long before the play begins, Oedipus became king of Thebes by solving the riddle of the Sphinx. Tiresias matches Oedipus insult for insult, mocking Oedipus for his eyesight and for the brilliance that once allowed him to solve the riddle of the Sphinxneither quality is now helping Oedipus to see the truth. Oedipus, King of Thebes, is supported by his daughter (and half-sister) Antigone, as they walk though the plague-ravaged city. Creon appears again in another myth, this one being in Antigone which is the continuation of Oedipus the King. [4] Yes, Oedipus had four siblings Antigone, Ismene, Polynices and Eteocles. Oedipus the King unfolds as a murder mystery, a political thriller, and a psychological whodunit. The Sphinx placed a great plague over Thebes and refused to remove it until someone correctly answered its riddle. How did Oedipus die? Oedipus, King of Thebes, is supported by his daughter (and half-sister) Antigone, as they walk though the plague-ravaged city. | Pherecydes, FHG 1 F 47 (reported in the scholia on Sophocles Oedipus Tyrannus 785). Statius: Oedipus is represented as a prisoner of his sons in the Thebaid, an epic of the late first century CE. In doing so, he unwittingly fulfilled the first half of the prophecy: he has killed his own father. Oedipus was handed to a shepherd, but the man was unable to bring himself to kill the child. But a passing herdsman found the baby and took him to Polybus, the king of Corinth (about 85 miles southeast of Thebes). In the common tradition, Jocasta killed herself, while Oedipus blinded himself.[18]. In response to this, he visited the same Oracle of Delphi who made the prophesy to his original parents. Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus 775; Seneca, Oedipus 272, 661, 802. However, the truth came out, eventually. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. (2022, December 5). It would kill any traveller who failed to answer its riddle which creature walks on four legs in the morning, two at noon and three in the evening? Oedipus answered correctly Man? The Sphinx threw itself off a cliff and Oedipus was offered the citys crown and its dowager queen, Jocasta. Sometimes it can end up there. It sat outside the cursed city's walls as a punishment from the gods. How did Oedipus become the king and who is he married to? And what does it mean? At the end of the play, after Oedipus has blinded himself, Creon becomes king and acts with compassion towards the repentant Oedipus, leading him into the palace and then, as Oedipus requestsand Apollo has ordainedinto exile. The devastating plague that dominates Thebes is presented to the audience through the dialogue between Oedipus and the Priest (lines 1-67) (2,3).The king has already taken some action to deal with this harm by sending his brother-in-law, Creon, to the oracle at Delphi . The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Enter a Melbet promo code and get a generous bonus, An Insight into Coupons and a Secret Bonus, Organic Hacks to Tweak Audio Recording for Videos Production, Bring Back Life to Your Graphic Images- Used Best Graphic Design Software, New Google Update and Future of Interstitial Ads. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1985. See Diodorus of Sicily, Library of History 4.64.3; Apollodorus, Library 3.5.8; etc. Oedipus, a stranger to Thebes, became king of the city after the murder of king Laius, about fteen or sixteen years before the The truth was that Laius and Jocasta had abandoned their baby son to a shepherd, Polybus. The leader of the Chorus asks Oedipus to calm down, but Tiresias only taunts Oedipus further, saying that the king does not even know who his parents are. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! The play "Oedipus the King" by Rex Sophocles, a notable Greek writer, covers the life experiences of Oedipus right from his appointment as the king of Thebes to tragedies that ultimately led to his downfall. Oedipus father was Laius, a king of Thebes. [19] Possibly even more surprising are the traditions in which Oedipus did not blind himself but rather was blinded much earliereither by Laius servants[20] or even by his foster father, Polybus.[21]. Many heroes attempted to answer the riddle, but each one was eaten alive after answering incorrectly.
how did oedipus become king of thebes
Posted by