1. Teiresias Blind Prophet Given wisdom by Apollo
Lived seven lifetimes as both woman and man
After death he was sole person in Hades to retain gifts of speech and understanding

2. Teiresias’s Role in Oedipus
His blindness reveals the truth
Confrontation with Oedipus concerning true “vision”
Reveals Oedipus’ hamartia (excess pride/impetuousness)
Didactism

3. Oedipus the Character A man of extremes
Proclaims himself “God-like)  Tempts fate
Disregards Teiresias due to his “blindness”
Does sight = knowledge?
Flawed due to hubris (excess pride)

4. Oedipus and Tiresias:
“I know that the vision of our lord Tiresias is most like that of Lord Apollo.”
Although blind Tiresias has insight greater than that of a man.

5. Oedipus and Tiresias
“You cannot equal the gods…but we do rate you first of men.”
Oedipus is sighted as men are; yet he lacks insight into the truth about himself and his world, as all mortals are likely to lack such insight.
Tiresias: “I tell you, you and your loved ones live together, in infamy, you cannot see how far you’ve gone in guilt.”
Mutual accusations draw heavily on the image of blindness

6. Oedipus and Tiresias
Oedipus: “You’ve lost your power, stone-blind, stone – deaf, senses, eyes as blind as stone.”
Tiresias: “ I pity you, flinging at me the very insults each man here will fling at you soon.”
Oedipus: “Blind, lost in the night, endless night that nursed you! You can’t hurt me or anyone else who sees the light – you can never touch me.”
Tiresias: “You with your precious eyes you’re blind to the corruption of your life... You mock my blindness, do you? But I say that you, with both your eyes, are blind.”

7. The “Big” Question What is man? What is the purpose of existence?
Man most often questions the nature of existence during a period of flux
A violent, changing world
Social, political, and philosophical conflict
Fear abounds
Sophocles is conflicted between Traditionalism (Gods and Myths <Fate>) and Individualism (the new democracy <Free Will>)
O Generation of mortal men
I add up the total of your lives
And find it equals nothing

8. The Olympians

9. Zeus
King of gods
Heaven
Storms
Thunder
Lightning Bolt

10. Apollo (Phoebus)
God of the sun
Music
Poetry
Fine arts
Medicine

11. Hades Brother to Zeus and Poseidon King of the Underworld (Tartarus)
Husband of Persphone

12. Dionysus (Bacchus)
God of Wine
Partying (Revelry)

13. Hermes Messenger to the gods Trade Commerce Travelers
Thieves & scoundrels

14. Athena
Goddess of wisdom
Practical arts
War

15. Artemis
Goddess of hunting and the moon.

16. Demeter Goddess of Harvest Agriculture Fertility Fruitfulness
Mom to Persephone

17. Hera
Queen of gods
Women
Marriage
Childbirth

18. Poseidon
Zeus’s brother
King of the sea
Earthquakes
Horses

19. Ares
God of war

20. Hephaestus
God of fire
Craftspeople
Metalworkers
Artisans

21. Hestia
Goddess of Hearth
Home
Community

22. Aphrodite
Goddess of love and beauty