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The story of Oedipus the King was told in the play by Sophocles written about 430 B.C. and performed in Athens. Oedipus at Coloneus, the story about Oedipus' old age, was first performed in 402 B.C.
The Delphic oracle prophesied to Laius, the king of Thebes, that he would be killed by a son and that his son would marry his mother. Shocked by such a prophesy, the king and queen decided to kill their first-born son and gave him to a shepherd to be exposed to nature on a mountain and die. The infant's feet were pierced and tied together, and taken by the shepherd. However, the shepherd took pity on the child and took him to Corinth where he was adopted by King Polybus and his childless queen.
When he was grown, Oedipus heard by chance that he was not Polybus's son, and he went to Delphi to learn if it was true. The oracle did not answer his question, but prophesied that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Thinking the prophecy referred to his foster parents, he decided not to return to Corinth. Leaving Delphi, he came upon a man at a crossroads with four attendants who tried to force him from his path. The man, none other than King Laius, prodded him with his stick and Oedipus, arrogant and quick to anger, slew him and three of the attendants. The fourth escaped to report the king's death to the Thebans. The incident was not further investigated because Thebes was having such problems with a Sphinx, a monster with the body of a winged lion and the breast and face of a woman. The Sphinx stood on a rock outside the gates and devoured everyone who failed to solve her riddle: "What creature walks on four feet in the morning, on two at noon and on three in the evening?"
Oedipus solved the riddle and the Sphinx hurled herself to her death on the rocks below. [Can you solve the riddle? It's an easy one...]
Oedipus was welcomed as a savior and was offered the vacant throne. He became king and married the queen who, unknown to him, was his mother. The ill-fated city of Thebes was again stricken, now by a plague. Oedipus again asked the Delphic oracle what could stop the plague, and was told that the plague would end when the murderer of King Laius was punished. Later, Oedipus learned that he was the murderer. The awful truth was known about his own past and about who the stranger was on the path. Oedipus blinded himself in self-hate. Oedipus went to Coloneus, a suburb of Athens, where he spent the rest of his life and was taken care of by his daughter, Antigone.
The Delphic oracle prophesied to Laius, the king of Thebes, that he would be killed by a son and that his son would marry his mother. Shocked by such a prophesy, the king and queen decided to kill their first-born son and gave him to a shepherd to be exposed to nature on a mountain and die. The infant's feet were pierced and tied together, and taken by the shepherd. However, the shepherd took pity on the child and took him to Corinth where he was adopted by King Polybus and his childless queen.
When he was grown, Oedipus heard by chance that he was not Polybus's son, and he went to Delphi to learn if it was true. The oracle did not answer his question, but prophesied that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Thinking the prophecy referred to his foster parents, he decided not to return to Corinth. Leaving Delphi, he came upon a man at a crossroads with four attendants who tried to force him from his path. The man, none other than King Laius, prodded him with his stick and Oedipus, arrogant and quick to anger, slew him and three of the attendants. The fourth escaped to report the king's death to the Thebans. The incident was not further investigated because Thebes was having such problems with a Sphinx, a monster with the body of a winged lion and the breast and face of a woman. The Sphinx stood on a rock outside the gates and devoured everyone who failed to solve her riddle: "What creature walks on four feet in the morning, on two at noon and on three in the evening?"
Oedipus solved the riddle and the Sphinx hurled herself to her death on the rocks below. [Can you solve the riddle? It's an easy one...]
Oedipus was welcomed as a savior and was offered the vacant throne. He became king and married the queen who, unknown to him, was his mother. The ill-fated city of Thebes was again stricken, now by a plague. Oedipus again asked the Delphic oracle what could stop the plague, and was told that the plague would end when the murderer of King Laius was punished. Later, Oedipus learned that he was the murderer. The awful truth was known about his own past and about who the stranger was on the path. Oedipus blinded himself in self-hate. Oedipus went to Coloneus, a suburb of Athens, where he spent the rest of his life and was taken care of by his daughter, Antigone.
Quote from: http://www.sfusd.k12...us_summary.html
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