King Laius and Queen Jocasta of Thebes receive a prophecy that their newborn son will murder his father and marry his mother. Fearing the fulfillment of the prophecy, they have the infant's feet pierced and rope threaded through them, then order a servant to tie the baby to a tree and leave it to die. The servant, however, is merciful, and he decides to leave the baby in a field by a mountain instead. The infant is found by a shepherd from Corinth, who gives it to the King and Queen of Corinth who are unable to bear children of their own. The baby is named Oedipus, meaning "swollen foot," and is raised by the royal family of Corinth as their own.
Oedipus Rex
"And that play, that Oedipus thing. Man! I thought I had problems" - Hercules to Megara (Circa. 1997)
The Prophecy
Baby Oedipus being tied to the tree by the servant, and promptly removed the tree
The Truth
After he became a man, Oedipus was told by a drunk that he was a "bastard", meaning at that time that he was not the King and Queen's biological son. Oedipus confronted his parents with the news, but they denied this. Oedipus went to the same oracle in Delphi that his birth parents had consulted. The oracle informed him that he was destined to murder his father and marry his mother. Oedipus still believes that King Polybus and Queen Merope are his real parents, so he leaves Corinth to avoid fulfilling his prophecy. Instead of returning home, he decides to travel to Thebes, which was closer to Delphi.
The Journey
Oedipus killed an old man who was actually his father, fulfilling half of the prophecy already.
On the way, he encounters an old man and his servants. They get into an argument and King Laius strikes him with his scepter. Oedipus is infuriated and kills Laius and all but one of his servants, unbeknownst to him that Laius is not an old man but actually his father.
Guarding the gates of Thebes was a powerful Sphinx who was sent to kill all travelers who could not answer her riddle. Oedipus managed to answer her riddle and the Sphinx was so distraught that she flung herself off of the nearest cliff, causing her death. Oedipus was hailed as a hero in Thebes.
Did you know?
The riddle is “What goes on fours in the morning, on twos in the afternoon and on threes at night?" Oedipus said that the answer is a human being, because a human being walks on all fours in early life, on two legs as an adult and with a walking stick in old age.
After solving the riddle of the Sphinx Oedipus becomes the king of Thebes as the former king was murdered. To reward him, he receives the Queen's hand in marriage, and together they rule Thebes. He and Queen Jocasta have four children together.
King Oedipus
Oedipus is hailed as a hero by the people of Thebes, and is crowned king (to replace the previous ruler who disappeared while traveling). He marries the Queen an they have four children together - two sons and two daughters. Oedipus is a good king and rules successfully, until a drought and plague fall upon Thebes.
Curing Thebes
Creon, Oedipus' step-brother, is sent to the Temple of Apollo to receive an answer as to why Thebes is afflicted with such suffering. He returns and relays the message: the drought and plague will only stop once Laius' murderer is brought to justice.
Finding the murderer
Quiz
Which prophet lives in the Temple of Apollo?
- Tiresias the Prophet
- Oracle of Delphi
- Oracle of Dion