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, 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

Antigone at her Brother's Grave Red Figure, 4th 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