CMLT316 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Haemon, Oedipus The King, Seven Against Thebes
3 Jun 2018
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Class 21: The Age of Heroes - The Theban Cycle
Theban Cycle
● Cadmus and Serpent
Laius’ (king of Thebes) ate (rash action)
● While in exile in Elis, he kidnapped the king Pelops’ son Chrysippus
● Upon his return to Thebes, Laius and Jocasta have a child - but the prophecy (if they
had a child, he would kill his father and marry his mother)
● Child to be exposed by servant, but instead given to Corinthian shepherd (child
overcoming death)
● Shepherd gives child to Corinthian king Polybus and his wife Merope
● As a young man, uncertainty of birth sends Oedipus to find his true origins (Delphi)
● Delphic oracle: Oedipus will kill his father and marry his mother
● Kills Laius along the road to Thebes (Oedipus’ first ate)
● There is met by regent (Creon) and Jocasta - learns of Sphinx plaguing the city
● Oedipus proves himself worthy of leadership (intelligent)
● But he is doomed because of his offence against his father
● Oracles (one’s fate) cannot be avoided
● His youthful recklessness has caused him to fulfil what he has tried so hard to avoid (cf.
Pentheus, Phaethon, Perseus)
Could Oedipus have avoided these events?
● Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus performed 429 BCE
● Plague of Athens 430 BCE
● Oedipus is insistent upon discovering the truth at all costs (Jocasta proves to be his foil -
Polybus’ grave is enough proof of his innocence)
● Decrees what the perpetrator of the plague by cast out of the city when discovered
● Anagnorisis (discovery) scene - interrogation of servant
● Realizes the truth and blinds himself
Sophocles: ‘Oedipus and Colonus’ (401 BCE)
● Oedipus wandering Greece with Antigone and Ismene
● No place will receive them, except for Athens (under Theseus’ rule)
● Creon still pursuing Oedipus for his crime
● Theseus protects Oedipus
● Visited by son Polynices - Oedipus curses sons for fighting over rule (another ate)
● Oedipus forgiven by the Furies at last for his crimes (and disappears in a garden)
● An old man making peace with his life (Eumenides) before death
● Establishment of his religious ‘hero’ status (ability to do remarkable things)
● Propaganda for Athens and the deme of Colonus (Sophocles’)
‘Seven Against Thebes’
● Story of Eteocles and Polynices
● Polynices marshals force from Argos along with Tydeus (Arcadia) including Adrastus,
Capaneus, Hippomedon, Parthenopaeus and Amphiaraus
● The two brothers fated to die at each other’s hands (Oedipus’ curse)
Sophocles: ‘Antigone’ (ca 441 BCE)
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Document Summary
Class 21: the age of heroes - the theban cycle. While in exile in elis, he kidnapped the king pelops" son chrysippus. Upon his return to thebes, laius and jocasta have a child - but the prophecy (if they had a child, he would kill his father and marry his mother) Child to be exposed by servant, but instead given to corinthian shepherd (child overcoming death) Shepherd gives child to corinthian king polybus and his wife merope. As a young man, uncertainty of birth sends oedipus to find his true origins (delphi) Delphic oracle: oedipus will kill his father and marry his mother. Kills laius along the road to thebes (oedipus" first ate) There is met by regent (creon) and jocasta - learns of sphinx plaguing the city. Oedipus proves himself worthy of leadership (intelligent) But he is doomed because of his offence against his father.
