Oedipus Laius married to Jocasta Prophecy that Laius

Oedipus • Laius married to Jocasta • Prophecy that Laius’ son would kill him and have children with his own mother, Jocasta • Laius ordered newborn son to be exposed • Infant discovered by a shepherd OR shepherd didn’t have heart to leave the child to die – Shepherd gave child to Queen of Corinth, wife of Polybus, who raised child as their own – Oedipus = swollen foot

Oedipus • Learned from Delphi prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother • Thought Polybus, king of Corinth, was his father, so he left to avoid the prophecy • Oedipus met an old man in the road – Old man and his guards attacked Oedipus – Oedipus killed the old man and his guards except for one

Oedipus and the Sphinx • Sphinx had been killing travelers who couldn’t answer her riddle – What walks on 4 legs in the morning, 2 legs in the afternoon, and 3 legs at night? • Oedipus answered correctly: Man – because as infant would crawl on it hands and feet (4); in most of his life, he would walk on two legs; but when he was old, he would have to rely on a walking stick (3) • The Sphinx drowned herself

Amphora, 450 -440 B. C.

Oedipus • Creon married Oedipus to Jocasta and gave him the kingship as a reward – Oedipus had just unknowingly married his mother • Oedipus ruled happily with Jocasta until their sons were grown – Had 4 kids • Polyneices, Eteocles, Ismene, Antigone • Then Thebes was struck with a plague that led to a famine. . . Things were bad

Oedipus • Sends Creon to Delphi – Oracle said murderer of Laius must be punished • Teiresias – Blind prophet – Reveals that Oedipus had killed Laius • Oedipus refuses to believe and investigates further

Oedipus • Messenger comes to Thebes to announce that Polybus, king of Corinth, has died – Oedipus believes he has beaten the prophecy – Messenger reveals Oedipus was adopted! • Jocasta puts together the truth and slips away • Oedipus learns from the old shepherd that Laius was his father and Jocasta his mother

Oedipus • Oedipus goes to find his mother/wife • Finds she has committed suicide – She hung herself • Oedipus puts out his own eyes – Doesn’t want to see the shame in his new world • Oedipus goes into exile – His daughter Antigone went with him – Both daughters present when he died (antigone and Ismene)

Seven Against Thebes • While Oedipus was in exile, sons Eteocles and Polyneices were to alternate years as rulers • However, Eteocles refused to give up the throne when Polyneices returned to Thebes for his turn and banished his brother from Thebes • Polyneices went to Argos to appeal to king Adrastus for help • Recruited Argives and began the war of the Seven Against Thebes

Antigone • Waited in Thebes during the war for the Seven Against Thebes to see which brother would win • Neither won, and Creon, Jocasta’s brother, became the ruler of Thebes • Polyneices and the others who died fighting against Thebes, were to be left as bird food according to a decree from Creon

Antigone • Ismene refused to go against Creon’s orders • Antigone snuck out and performed burial rites for Polyneices even though it was a crime – Ismene tried to share the blame, but Antigone wouldn’t let her • Creon punishes Antigone by entombing her in a cave

Antigone in front of the dead Polynices – Nikoforos Lytras - 1865

Antigone at her Brother's Grave Red Figure, 4 th century BC Musáe du Louvre, Paris

Antigone • Her fiance, Creon’s son Haemon, went to rescue her, but she had already hung herself • Creon came to let her out as well, at which point Haemon tried to kill Creon, failed and so killed himself in front of his father • Creon’s wife, Eurydice, killed herself out of grief of losing all 3 of her children • Creon’s pride killed his niece and destroyed his own family