Campbell Rosener. Mr. Hill. Greek I. 14 November 2018 MME STUDY GUIDE 1: OEDIPUS

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1 Campbell Rosener Mr. Hill Greek I 14 November 2018 MME STUDY GUIDE 1: OEDIPUS Oedipus at Corinth: Having been born with an ominous prophecy over his head, parents Jocasta and Laius abandoned their infant son on Mt. Cithaeron to ensure their own safety. However, a certain shepherd found the boy, took pity on him, and took him to Corinth to be raised as King Polybus s own. Oedipus grew up there believing that he was Polybus s biological son until he heard rumors otherwise. He then became curious and consulted the oracle at Delphi, who told him the same prophecy his parents had heard: that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Terrified, Oedipus vowed to never return to Corinth. Oedipus on the Road: Now an exile, Oedipus encountered his true father while wandering at the crossroads between Phocis, Delphi, and Daulia. Laius (not recognizing his son) attempted to run him off the road; Oedipus, in a mixture of self-defense and outrage, killed him and most of his train. He next met the Sphinx, the defunct guardian of the Thebes, who asked him a riddle in exchange for safe passage. Oedipus answered correctly and vanquished the creature that had been plaguing the Thebans for years. In gratitude, they made him their new king. Oedipus Tyrannos: Oedipus settled down at Thebes, and married Jocasta, Laius s widow and his own mother. They lived in ignorance and bliss until Apollo sent down a famine, demanding the murder of Laius be solved. Oedipus consulted the seer Tiresias, who cryptically declared that the king himself was the murderer. Falling into a state of hysteria, Oedipus gradually unearthed the truth: that he was indeed the murderer, truly Laius s son, and that he unwittingly fulfilled the prophecy he so feared. He gouged out his eyes in horror of his incestuous relations and demanded that he be exiled from Thebes. Oedipus at Colonus: Oedipus wandered the world with his daughter Antigone as his guide and stumbled upon the sacred grove of the Furies at Colonus, later realizing he was prophesized to die there. The citizens of nearby Athens were frightened of his presence, but their King Theseus offered his protection and sympathy. News soon arrived that the power struggle between Oedipus s two sons would be determined by where his body was buried. Various representatives from his past came to gain his favor, but he scorned their insensitivity and drove them off with the help of Theseus. At last, he died in peace and blessed Athens with the powers of his corpse. 1: CADMUS Cadmus s Wanderings: When his sister Europa had been mysteriously abducted, Cadmus set off from his native Phoenicia to find her. He came to Thrace and to Samothrace without any

2 success; he then decided to consult the oracle at Delphi. He was told to concern himself with following a certain cow who crossed his path, then establish a city where it settled down. Cadmus and Thebes: Cadmus followed Apollo s instructions successfully and began to establish the city of Thebes. However, he encountered a dragon sacred to Ares and killed it in self-defense. Following Athena s advice, he sowed the dragon s teeth in the earth, creating the Spartoi, the first men of Thebes. One way another, they fought amongst each other, leaving the survivors to help Cadmus build the city. This incident was not without consequences: Cadmus had to serve Ares for eight years to atone for the murder of his dragon. Cadmus s Short-Lived Peace: He was then given Harmonia, a minor goddess, as his wife. In some versions, this was to the fact he helped defeat the monster Typhon; in others, simply for having finished his atonement. The gods themselves attended their wedding and brought lavish gifts that brought mortals pains for centuries to come. During this period he was said to have introduced written language with the help of Danaus. Unfortunately, Thebes was seized by unrest, and Cadmus and his family were forced to flee. Cadmus in Illyria: Thankfully, they found a purpose in fighting for the Encheleans against the Illyrians. Cadmus was victorious and founded a number of minor cities in the area. Even then, he continued to be plagued for killing the dragon of Ares and was turned into a serpent, with Harmonia following shortly afterwards. In death, they resided in the Elysian fields. 2: OEDIPUS Laius: Laius is Oedipus s father and the former king of Thebes. He feared the oracle s words and abandoned his son on Mt. Cithaeron, only to be killed by him at the crossroads. Jocasta: Jocasta is both Oedipus s mother and wife. She married Oedipus after he vanquished the Sphinx and had many children with him. Upon discovering the truth, she hung herself Tiresias: Tiresias is the blind seer of the Thebes who grudgingly tried to warn Oedipus about the nature of his parentage. However, the king refused to listen, and Tiresias left gladly. Creon: Creon is Oedipus s brother-in-law and one of the successors to his throne. He clashed with Oedipus many times in his life and ultimately ended on bad terms with him. Antigone: Antigone is Oedipus s daughter. She left with him in exile as his guide and only returned to Thebes upon his death. Theseus: Theseus is the king of Athens and Oedipus s host. He granted the exile refuge and a peaceful death. 2: CADMUS Europa: Europa is Cadmus s sister. Her abduction spurred his journey across the world and ultimately led him to found Thebes.

3 The Dragon: The dragon is an animal sacred to Ares. Killed by Cadmus, its death caused many misfortunes for the man throughout his life. Harmonia: Harmonia is a daughter either of Ares and Aphrodite or Zeus and Electra as well as Cadmus s wife. She was given to him by the gods and followed him faithfully, even into death. The Spartoi: The Spartoi are the men Cadmus created with the dragon s teeth as the first citizens of Thebes. 3: OEDIPUS Thebes: Thebes is Oedipus s birthplace. Despite not knowing its significance, he returned there and ruled as king. Mt. Cithaeron: Mt. Cithaeron is a mountain sacred to Dionysus on which Oedipus was abandoned on as a baby. Corinth: Corinth is Oedipus s adoptive city and to his knowledge, his real home. Until he unveiled the truth, he vowed to never return there. Delphi: Delphi is a sanctuary which houses the famous oracle of Delphi. Unsure about his parentage, Oedipus consulted the oracle and was displeased by her answer. Crossroads: The Crossroads between Daulis, Phocis, and Delphi are where Oedipus killed Laius. Colonus: Colonus is a city just outside of Athens which has a grove sacred to the Furies. Oedipus died and was buried there. 3: CADMUS Phoenicia: Phoenicia is Cadmus s birthplace. After leaving it to find Europa, he never returned. Thrace: Thrace is a region which Cadmus visited on his search. Samothrace: Samothrace is a nearby island which is sacred to Zeus. When Cadmus visited, it is possible he was inducted into its mysteries. Delphi: Delphi is a sanctuary which houses the famous oracle of Delphi. Cadmus visited her for information about Europa and was instead told to found a city where a certain cow stopped. Thebes: Thebes is the city Cadmus founded. His line lived there for generations inside the seven gates he built himself. Illyria: Illyria is a region which Cadmus and his family fled to. He assisted the Encheleans in their fight against the Illyrians and died there.

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5 5: OEDIPUS Sophocles. Oedipus the King. The Theban Plays, translated by Robert Fagles, Penguin Books, Sophocles. Oedipus at Colonus. The Theban Plays, translated by Robert Fagles, Penguin Books, : CADMUS Ovid. Metamorphoses. Translated by Arthur Golding, Perseus Digital Library, Homer. The Iliad. Translated by Robert Fagles, Penguin Books, Apollodorus. Library. Translated by Sir James George Frazer, Perseus Digital Library, Diodorus Siculus. Library. Translated C.H. Oldfather, Perseus Digital Library, 1989.