19. OEDIPUS and his FAMILY

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House of Labdacus

Cadmus

• came to Greece from Asia Minor
  • brought writing to Greece (legend)
  • came in search of Europa, who was abducted by Zeus
  • asked advice of Delphic oracle
• told to follow cow, and build city where she led him
  • founded city Cadmeia in region Boeotia (= 'cow-land')
  • later name changed to Thebes
• needed water from spring guarded by dragon
  • killed dragon; told by Athena to sow its teeth in ground
  • armed men spring up from teeth, all but 5 kill each other
  • descendents are the nobility of Thebes--Spartoi (= 'sown men')
• children include Semele, Agave (see Dionysus), ?Polydorus

Labdacus

• son of Polydorus, grandson of Cadmus?
• king of Thebes after Pentheus
• dies leaving 1-year-old son Laius

Laius

• exiled from Thebes; goes to Pelops in Elis
  • abducts Pelops' son Chrysippus
  • curse put on family by Pelops
• returns to Thebes as king, marries Jocasta
• Delphic oracle warns not to have a son
  • Aeschylus presents this as: if you have a son, he will kill you
  • Sophocles presents this as: your son will kill you
• therefore has baby Oedipus exposed, with spike through feet

Oedipus

• name means 'swell-foot'--because of spike
• rescued, raised by king of Corinth
• asks Delphic oracle about parentage
  • question: Who are my parents?
  • answer: You will kill your father, marry your mother
• avoids Corinth, but kills father at crossroads near Delphi
• answers riddle and destroys sphinx at Thebes
• grateful populace offers him kingdom, queen (Jocasta)
• must find Laius' murder to stop a plague on city
  • discovers he is the one--blinds self; Jocasta hangs herself
• wanders Greece, finds rest in Colonus, in region Attica
  • welcomed by Theseus, king of Athens
  • Creon becomes king of Thebes in his place
    • Creon is Jocasta's brother, Oedipus' brother-in-law (and uncle!)
• alternative; lives at Thebes until death
  • curses sons, Eteocles and Polynices, for dishonoring him