The protagonist of Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus. Once Oedipus was an adult, he learned from the oracle at Delphi that he would kill his father and commit incest with his mother. See Diodorus of Sicily, Library of History 4.64.3; Apollodorus, Library 3.5.8; etc. Oedipus immediately began investigating the murder, only to discover not only that he was the one who had committed the deed, but that Laius was in fact his real fatherand that Laius widow, to whom he was married, was his mother! As William Empson pointed out in his notes to his brilliant poem Four Legs, Two Legs, Three Legs, Oedipus solution was man but it told us nothing about mankind. Tiresias is blind but can see the truth; Oedipus has his sight but cannot. Oedipus. Privacy Policy, https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DO%3Aentry+group%3D2%3Aentry%3Doedipus-bio-1. And this points up an important fact about the Greek myths, which is that, like Aesops fables which date from a similar time and also have their roots in classical Greek culture, many of these stories evolved as moral fables or tales designed to warn Greek citizens of the dangers of hubris, greed, lust, or some other sin or characteristic. 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. In some versions, the Delphic oracle warned Oedipus that there was a prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother; believing Polybus to be his real father (in this version of the story), Oedipus fled home, worried that he would kill Polybus. March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 However, in each of these versions it was considered a tragedy. Provoked by the anger and insults of Oedipus, Tiresias begins to hint at his knowledge. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Thus, the prophesy had come true in full and Oedipus didnt even know it. SparkNotes PLUS Oedipus. [28], There were tombs and hero cults of Oedipus in the region of ancient Attica, including in Colonus and Athens itself. Oedipus. Mythopedia, 5 Dec. 2022. https://mythopedia.com/topics/oedipus. 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. Attributed to the Oedipus Painter (ca. They raised the homeless child, who became their heir. When Oedipus discovered that he had fulfilled the prophecy, he gouged his eyes, blinding himself, and banished himself from the city. Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus 1661ff; Apollodorus, Library 3.5.9. Oedipus, in Greek mythology, the king of Thebes who unwittingly killed his father and married his mother. 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. Want 100 or more? Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Oedipus, a stranger to Thebes, became king of the city after the murder of king Laius, about fteen or sixteen years before the What is it that has one voice and yet becomes four-footed and two-footed and three-footed? Yes, Oedipus had four siblings Antigone, Ismene, Polynices and Eteocles. In some versions, a messenger arrived from Corinth to tell Oedipus that his adoptive father, Polybus, had died of natural causes, and Oedipus was the natural choice of successor as king. Mythopedia. Only his devoted daughter Antigone accompanied him, helping him in his blindness and his old age. Oedipus, King of Thebes, is supported by his daughter (and half-sister) Antigone, as they walk though the plague-ravaged city. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Puzzled at first, then angry, Oedipus insists that Tiresias tell Thebes what he knows. Greek history. In his Odyssey, Homer calls her Epicaste. She holds a Masters degree in Linguistics and Education, and has also studied Political Science, Ancient History and Literature. 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. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. In most traditions, Jocasta/Epicasta hangs herself, but according to Seneca she stabs herself with a sword. Jocasta, hearing this, realised that the prophecy all of it had come true. Oedipus at Colonus, Cursing his Son Polynices by Henry Fuseli (1777). Continuing on his way, Oedipus found Thebes plagued by the Sphinx, who put a riddle to all passersby and destroyed those who could not answer. Smith, William. Jocasta? "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles is one of such story. Any ideas? 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. Puzzled at first, then angry, Oedipus insists that Tiresias tell Thebes what he knows. The Heroes of the Greeks. Its a story that highlights the inevitability of destiny and the devastation that occurs when you try to thwart your fate. Oedipus visited an oracle when he was older and was told that he would kill his father and have children with his mother. Have you heard about this before ? How does Oedipus become the king of Thebes? The Sphinx was a creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human. Thank you ! Copyright Symbol Sage 2022 All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2023 History Today Ltd. Company no. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! He was pronounced King of Thebes but unknowingly married his mother, Jocasta. Once he reached adulthood, Oedipus set out on a journey, during which he quarreled with and killed an old man, defeated the Sphinx, and became the king of Thebes by marrying the widow of the late king. Oedipus. Why does Oedipus feel he is the person most affected by the plague? Creon, the first annual eponymous archon of Athens, 682-681 BC; Greek mythology. Additionally, Oedipus physically puts out his own eyes, for . Sophocles told how Oedipus was saved from death as an infant and raised in Corinth. Wed love to have you back! How did Oedipus become king of thebes? He inadvertently killed his father, solved the riddle of the Sphinx, and became king of Thebes. As the play opens, the citizens of Thebes beg their king, Oedipus . Edmunds, Lowell. After that, King Laius gave the boy to a shepherd to take him to the mountains and leave him to die. The Greek Myths. According to some traditions, Jocasta did not kill herself until much later, after the deaths of her sons Eteocles and Polyneices. 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. She told Oedipus that he was destined to marry his mother and kill his father. [15], Though this was the most common version of the Sphinx myth, it was not the only one. for a customized plan. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Oedipus, King of Thebes, is supported by his daughter (and half-sister) Antigone, as they walk though the plague-ravaged city. You can view our. After a massacre and almost total destruction in a fruitless uprising (336) against Alexander the Great, Cassander rebuilt Thebes in 316. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Oedipus, curious to know more, summoned the blind prophet Tiresias, whose reluctance to speak made Oedipus suspect him. And upon facing the monster, Oedipus answer wasman, who at the beginning life crawls on hands and feet, later stands on two legs, and then finally in old age uses a staff to help them walk. The Sphinx had been terrorizing Thebes for an undisclosed amount of time before Oedipus was able to defeat it. The answer, Oedipus realized, was "a human being": humans crawl on four legs as babies, walk on two legs as adults, and become "three-footed" in old age (when they use a cane to walk). Scholia on Sophocles Oedipus at Colonus 91. How do non living things affect an ecosystem? Homer, Odyssey 11.271ff; cf. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Though Oedipus is perhaps best known through Sophocles tragedy Oedipus Tyrannus, there were many different sources for his myth circulating in the ancient world. Sophocles: The Oedipus myth is central to three of Sophocles surviving tragedies: Antigone (ca. The people were so grateful that they made him King. Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.28.7, 1.30.4. The most famous one, youll remember, asked What goes on four legs in the morning, two legs at midday, and three legs in the evening? The answer is man because we are born as babies that crawl on all fours, walk on two legs as adults when in the prime of life (midday), and then walk with an artificial third leg, a walking stick, in old age or the evening of our lives. Creon is the brother in law of Oedipus (brother of Jocasta). Back to Section Index Back to Table of Contents. That way, Oedipus fulfilled the first part of the prophecy. These two sisters are day and night, which give birth to each other because one follows the other. The Oedipus complex remains a famous and central tenet of psychoanalytic theory. The Greek myths are over two thousand years old and perhaps, in their earliest forms, much older and yet many stories from Greek mythology, and phrases derived from those stories, are part of our everyday speech. After they had been together for some time, the king and queen consulted theOracle of Delphias to what could be done about that. 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. What does it mean that the Bible was divinely inspired? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Written by GreekBoston.com in Greek Mythology (one code per order). The shepherd could not leave the child in that way, so he took Oedipus to the court of King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth. Some of these textsfor example, the Oedipodia, the Thebaid, Aeschylus Oedipus trilogy, Euripides Oedipus, and Julius Caesars Oedipusno longer survive. 440 BCE), Oedipus Tyrannus (ca. 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. Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus 1374; Apollodorus, Library 3.5.9. Oedipus became ruler after defeating the Sphinx, a creature with the head of a woman, the body of a lioness and the wings of an eagle. Once he heard that Oedipus answered correctly, he told Oedipus that he was to become the king. The misfortunes of Thebes are believed to be the result of a curse laid upon Laius for the time he had violated the sacred laws of hospitality (Greek: xenia). Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus; Apollodorus, Library 3.5.9; Hyginus, Fabulae 67, where Oedipus flees from Thebes voluntarily. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. How did Oedipus become king of thebes? Before his conception, King Laius visited the oracle of Delphi to find out if he and his wife would ever have a son. Accessed September 10, 2021. https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DO%3Aentry+group%3D2%3Aentry%3Doedipus-bio-1. Of course, Oedipus doesn't know Laius was the man he'd killed on the road. Oedipus, in Greek mythology, the king of Thebes who unwittingly killed his father and married his mother. Diodorus of Sicily: The Library of History, a work of universal history covering events from the creation of the cosmos to Diodorus own time (mid-first century BCE), contains references to the myths of Oedipus (in Book 4). These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Similarly, Narcissus, in another famous Greek myth, actually shunned other people before he fell in love with his own reflection, and yet we still talk of someone who is obsessed with their own importance and appearance as being narcissistic. When the boy was born, however, Laius was careful to avoid the prophecy coming true, so he had the boys ankles pierced and joined together with a strap. Subscribe now. But Oedipus had learned the prophecy in a dream and was able to answer his half-sister. From about 280 it was once more part of the revived Boeotian League, forming regional alliances as required. Cf. Oedipus asks Tiresias and Creon a great many questionsquestions are his typical mode of address and frequently a sign of his quick and intelligent mindbut they are merely rhetorical, for they accuse and presume rather than seek answers. Yes and no. What happened to Oedipus after he discovered his crimes was much contested in antiquity. Sometimes it can end up there. As Oedipus prophesied, the two brothers killed each other fighting for the throne. Oedipus the King unfolds as a murder mystery, a political thriller, and a psychological whodunit. His children were Antigone, Ismene, Polynices and Eteocles. Oedipus accuses Creon of trying to overthrow him, since it was he who recommended that Tiresias come. Provoked by the anger and insults of Oedipus, Tiresias begins to hint at his knowledge. Cron, a commune in the Gironde . Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The prophecy, however, was not the expected; the oracle told him that if he ever had a son, the boy would be the one to kill him and would later marry Jocasta, his mother. He solved the riddle of the Sphinx. According to a popular tradition, Oedipus eventually came to the Attic town of Colonus, not far from Athens. The oracle tells Oedipus' father Laius, the King of Thebes, that his son will kill him. In the more famous version told by Sophocles in his play Oedipus Rex, its something far bigger: a plague was ravaging the city of Thebes, and the Delphic oracle revealed that the plague would only abate when Laius death is avenged. Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, Sweden. Creon (king of Thebes), mythological king of Thebes Creon (king of Corinth), father of Creusa/Glauce in Euripides' Medea Creon, son of Heracles by a daughter of Thespius, king of Thespiae; Medicine. Oedipus. In A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. 4 What caused the downfall of Oedipus in Oedipus the King pride or anger? Oedipus and King Polybus Oedipus consulting the Oracle at Delphi Zurich: Artemis, 1994. [4] 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. [23] Finally, according to Homer, nothing changed at all: Oedipus continued to rule Thebes until he eventually fell in battle.[24]. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996. The truth was that Laius and Jocasta had abandoned their baby son to a shepherd, Polybus. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Scholia on Euripides Phoenician Women 26. Continue to start your free trial. To avoid this fate, he fled from Corinth and Traveled to Thebes. 20% Perseus Digital Library. The blind seer sees the truth, but tries to protect Oedipus by remaining silent. At the end of the story Oedipus King of Thebes ends up banished forever from his kingdom. E.g., Pausanias, Description of Greece 9.26.3. 2 What is the source of Oedipus the King? Krauskopf, Ingrid. 430 BCE), and Oedipus at Colonus (405 BCE). He did not defeat the Sphinx through brute force but through intellect when he correctly answered the monster's riddle. In the common tradition, Jocasta killed herself, while Oedipus blinded himself.[18]. Despite the efforts of King Laius to prevent impregnating his wife, he failed. Oidipous. In Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae, Vol. Continuing his travels, Oedipus crossed paths with the Sphinx, a creature usually represented with the head of a woman, the body of a lion, and birds wings. 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 caused the childs feet to swell up, and in turn gave rise to Oedipus name, which literally means swollen foot.). Only in the final scene of Oedipus the King, when Creon's short lines demonstrate his eagerness to exile Oedipus and separate him from his children, do we see that the title of king is what Creon desires above all. In the tragedies, someone told Oedipus in order to insult him that he was a foundling and Polybus was not his real father. An old and broken man, he finally found some peace: he was honored by the Athenian king Theseus and given a funeral after he died. I would be delighted to read more on this. Were building the worlds most authoritative, online mythology resource, with engaging, accessible content that is both educational and compelling to read. After Oedipus demise, he left Creon, his half-brother, as the regent ruling Thebes. Because of this sharp reversal in fortune, Oedipus is often remembered as the great tragic hero of Greek mythology. They resolve that they will not believe any of these accusations against Oedipus unless they are shown proof. 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. Oedipus had killed his father. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. But how did this Greek myth come about? Jocasta killed herself, and Oedipus was shunned by his own children. Euripides, Oedipus frag. He solved the riddle of the Sphinx. [27] In time, the curse was fulfilled: Eteocles and Polyneices quarreled over which one of them should rule Thebes and ultimately killed each other in battle. Read more about how the Chorus reacts to events in the play. Read important quotes about sight and blindness by Oedipus and Tiresias. When Oedipus and Jocasta learned the truth about their relationship, they were horrified, and she hanged herself. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. Oedipus, supposed son of Polybus, King of Corinth; now elected King of Thebes.. Jocasta, Queen of Thebes; widow of Laus, the late King, and now wife to Oedipus.. Creon, a Prince of Thebes, brother to Jocasta.. Tiresias, an old blind seer.. What of the other riddle that exists in some alternative versions of the Oedipus story? Horrified, Oedipus blinded himself and went into exile. A pitiless, profound and influential Greek myth. 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 Becomes King of Thebes Creon, Queen Jocasta's brother, made an announcement after the king's death that anyone who answered the Sphinx's riddle correctly would become the new king of Thebes. How did Oedipus became the King of Thebes? And Laius was killed by robbers on the road, so that prophecy was clearly false. In every version of the Oedipus myth, the common element here is that Oedipus is rescued, and taken in by a king who has no children of his own. Priest of Zeus. Aeschylus also wrote a trilogy about Oedipus and his sons, and so did Euripides with hisPhoenician Women. The characters exit and the Chorus takes the stage, confused and unsure whom to believe. Kapach, A. Years later, Oedipus was told by a drunk man that he was a bastard, meaning that his parentage wasnt what he thought. How did Oedipus become king of thebes? In the oldest versions of the myth, he left home to go and steal horses, which isnt very noble. He marries the queen, Jocasta, who is unaware that she is actually Oedipus' mother. Even Julius Ceaser is known to have written a play about Oedipus, but the play hasnt survived. What caused the downfall of Oedipus in Oedipus the King pride or anger? Oedipus father was Laius, a king of Thebes. To conclude this analysis of the Oedipus myth, lets return to that riddle. Jocasta, while comforting Oedipus, revealed that Laius was prophesied to be killed by his own son, but had in fact been killed by robbers at a crossroads as he travelled to Delphi. CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY. London: Methuen, 1929. 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. Oedipus, King of Thebes, is supported by his daughter (and half-sister) Antigone, as they walk though the plague-ravaged city. We describe a challenging undertaking as a Herculean task, and speak of somebody who enjoys great success as having the Midas touch. This statement both infuriates and intrigues Oedipus, who asks for the truth of his parentage. Rota Otimis novel The Gods Are Not to Blame (1971) is an adaptation of the myth set in a Yoruba kingdom (originally published as a play in 1968). His siblings were also his children, as they were the children of incest. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It had a special attraction in the 20th century, motivating among other artists Russian-born composer Igor Stravinskys secular oratorio Oedipus Rex, French writer Andr Gides Oedipe, and French novelist Jean Cocteaus La Machine infernale. . Oedipus was the son of Laius, a king of Thebes, and his wife Jocasta (or Epicasta, according to some sources). Who wrote the music and lyrics for Kinky Boots? (Or, as the Bible bluntly puts it, the love of money is the root of all evil.). Oedipus appears as a cultural figure not only in Greece, but also in Albania, Cyprus, and Finland. Despite the prophecy, Laius slept with his wife Jocasta (sometimes called Epicasta) one night while he was drunk. Meaning and Healing Properties, Do I Need Sapphire? Thus, that part of the prophesy came true and he didnt even know. 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. How did Oedipus become the king of Thebes? Here is an overview of the story of King Oedipus: Oedipus was the son of the King Laiusand Queen Jocastaof Thebes. Euripides, Phoenician Women 63ff; Statius, Thebaid 1.46ff. Kapach, Avi. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Pindar: Oedipus is mentioned very briefly in the second Olympian Ode (476 BCE). The Chorus seems terrified and helpless in this section, and its speech at lines 526572 is fraught with uncertainty and anxiety. Sample A+ Essay: Are Humans Prisoners of Fate in Oedipus the King? TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. The Thebans acclaimed him as a great hero, and made Oedipus their new king, and married him to queen, Jocasta. However, the truth came out, eventually. To reward Oedipus, they made him their king and gave him as his bride Jocasta (or Epicasta), their queen and the widow of the late king Laius. The story of King Oedipus of Thebes was an influential part of Greek mythology, which was widely covered by many famous poets and writers. This was the correct answer. After Oedipus birth, Laius sent the newborn to be exposed, but Oedipus was taken to Corinth and raised by the king and queen instead. Omissions? Modern scholars have long debated the nature of Oedipus's hamartia. He was doomed. In what two ways is Creon related to Oedipus? 2 vols. Perhaps the ultimate hubris is in thinking one can cheat the gods. While traveling, he encountered a Sphinx who asked him the same riddle that he had asked everyone who journeyed to Thebes. 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. The people were so grateful that they made him King. Jocasta eventuallyabandoned the son to the mountains, thinking that he would perish. In Greek mythology, Oedipus first saved the city of Thebes from a plague placed upon it by the Sphinx. And thus he would (or at least could) have avoided killing his father and fulfilling the prophecy. Purchasing Oedipus. A Handbook of Greek Mythology. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Oedipus begs him to reveal who Laius's murderer is, but Tiresias answers only that he knows the truth but wishes he did not. Oedipus became ruler after defeating the Sphinx, a creature with the head of a woman, the body of a lioness and the wings of an eagle. The myth of Oedipus has also been adapted for the arts. Two Legends: Oedipus and Theseus. Statius: Oedipus is represented as a prisoner of his sons in the Thebaid, an epic of the late first century CE. Though, like Oedipus, the Chorus cannot believe the truth of what Tiresias has said, the Chorus does not believe itself to be untouchable as Oedipus does, consisting as it does of the plague-stricken, innocent citizens of Thebes. What are some examples of how providers can receive incentives? Oedipus dares Tiresias to say it again, and so Tiresias calls Oedipus the murderer. 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. Free trial is available to new customers only. The Cults and the Legend of Oedipus. Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 85 (1981): 22138. There have been several studies, comparisons, and contrasts about the different approaches of the writings of Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles. The themes of his story have been taken into consideration for many artists and scientists, making Oedipus a remarkable character in history. The two quarreled, the argument grew heated, and Oedipus ended up killing the old man. What is thought to influence the overproduction and pruning of synapses in the brain quizlet? Aeschylus: The tragedy Seven against Thebes is the only surviving play from Aeschylus Oedipus trilogy (467 BCE), which would have dealt with the entire myth of Oedipus from his birth to the deaths of his sons. Accessed on 2 Mar. 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. However, the plague caused by Laius death was threatening the city, and Oedipus started looking for Laius killer. Kapach, Avi. Edmunds, Lowell. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Thebes is experiencing a plague. Oedipus was born, and King Laius decided to get rid of him. Creon, Queen Jocastas brother, made an announcement after the kings death that anyone who answered the Sphinxs riddle correctly would become the new king of Thebes. He is renowned for his intelligence and his ability to solve riddleshe saved the city of Thebes and was made its king by solving the riddle of the Sphinx, the supernatural being that had held the city captive. But Oedipus was rescued and raised by Polybus, the king of Corinth. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Other names have been suggested for Oedipus mother, such as Euryclea (as reported in the scholia on Euripides Phoenician Women 26). Oedipus, in Greek mythology, the king of Thebes who unwittingly killed his father and married his mother. The Thebans were overjoyed to finally be free of the Sphinx. The messenger totally bursts the King's bubble, though. Deciding to investigate this matter, Oedipus ended up in Delphi, with an intention to learn the truth from the Oracle. The Thebans were so grateful to Oedipus for killing the Sphinx that they offered him the throne of their city-state, and their widowed queen in marriage. In early manhood Oedipus visited Delphi and upon learning that he was fated to kill his father and marry his mother, he resolved never to return to Corinth.