The story of Oedipus

The story of Oedipus is one of the most famous and tragic tales in Greek mythology. It is primarily known from the plays of Sophocles, particularly "Oedipus Rex" (Oedipus the King), "Oedipus at Colonus," and "Antigone." The story explores themes of fate, free will, and the search for truth.

The Prophecy

The story begins with a prophecy. Before Oedipus was born, his parents, King Laius and Queen Jocasta of Thebes, received a terrifying prophecy from the Oracle at Delphi: their newborn son would grow up to kill his father and marry his mother. Horrified by this prediction, Laius and Jocasta decided to avoid this fate by abandoning their son.

Oedipus’ Early Life

Laius and Jocasta ordered a servant to leave the infant Oedipus on a mountainside to die, but the servant, moved by pity, instead gave the baby to a shepherd from Corinth. The shepherd then handed the child over to King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth, who raised him as their own son, unaware of his true origins.

The Revelation of the Prophecy

As a young man, Oedipus learned of a prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Believing that Polybus and Merope were his biological parents, Oedipus fled Corinth to avoid this terrible fate.

The Murder of Laius

During his journey, Oedipus encountered a chariot at a crossroads. The driver and a man in the chariot (unbeknownst to Oedipus, this man was Laius, his real father) rudely ordered Oedipus to move aside. A quarrel ensued, and Oedipus, in a fit of rage, killed the man and the servants with him. Thus, without knowing it, Oedipus had fulfilled part of the prophecy by killing his father.

The Riddle of the Sphinx

After this incident, Oedipus continued his journey and arrived at Thebes, which was plagued by a monstrous Sphinx. The Sphinx posed a riddle to all travelers, devouring those who could not solve it. The riddle was: "What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening?"

Oedipus solved the riddle by answering, "Man," who crawls on all fours as a baby, walks on two legs as an adult, and uses a cane in old age. The Sphinx, defeated, threw herself off a cliff, and Thebes was freed from her terror.

King of Thebes and the Fulfillment of the Prophecy

As a reward for saving the city, Oedipus was made king of Thebes and married the widowed Queen Jocasta, his biological mother. They had four children: two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, and two daughters, Antigone and Ismene. Thus, the prophecy was fulfilled in its entirety, though neither Oedipus nor Jocasta was aware of the truth at this time.

The Plague and the Search for the Truth

Years later, a plague struck Thebes, and the Oracle at Delphi revealed that the plague would only end when the murderer of Laius was found and punished. Oedipus, determined to save his city, vowed to find the killer, not realizing that he was, in fact, searching for himself.

As Oedipus investigated, he uncovered the truth piece by piece. The old shepherd who had saved him as a baby finally revealed Oedipus' true origins, and the devastating realization hit both Oedipus and Jocasta. Jocasta, overwhelmed with horror, hanged herself. Oedipus, in despair, gouged out his own eyes and was exiled from Thebes.

Oedipus’ Later Life

The story continues in "Oedipus at Colonus," where the blind and aged Oedipus arrives at Colonus, near Athens, seeking a place to die. He is accompanied by his daughter Antigone, who has cared for him since his exile. At Colonus, Oedipus is finally granted peace, and he dies a mysterious death, becoming a revered figure in the afterlife.

The Legacy of Oedipus

Oedipus’ story is a profound exploration of fate, self-discovery, and the limits of human understanding. It raises questions about the nature of destiny and whether humans can escape their fated paths. The concept of the "Oedipus complex," developed by Sigmund Freud, is also derived from this myth, referring to a child’s unconscious desire for the opposite-sex parent and rivalry with the same-sex parent.