Oedipus Rex

  • Oedipus's birth
    600 BCE

    Oedipus's birth

    Oedipus was born unto a wealthy family outside of Athens.
  • Jocasta hears the prophecy.
    599 BCE

    Jocasta hears the prophecy.

    Jocasta hears the prophecy that foretells the murder of her husband by her son. She tells the shepherd to kill her son Oedipus.
  • Adoption of Oedipus
    598 BCE

    Adoption of Oedipus

    The shepherd discovers Oedipus with his feet pinned together. The first shepherd gives Oedipus to another shepherd in Corinth in which he is adopted by Polybus and Merope.
  • Oedipus leaves Corinth
    580 BCE

    Oedipus leaves Corinth

    Oedipus hears a rumor that states that he was adopted, so he leaves Corinth.
  • Oedipus gets the prophecy
    579 BCE

    Oedipus gets the prophecy

    Oedipus goes to the Oracle in Delphi, who tells him that he will kill his father and marry his mother.
  • Oedipus kills Laius
    578 BCE

    Oedipus kills Laius

    Oedipus finds a group of travelers who get into a fight and kills Laius without knowing who he is.
  • Riddle of the Sphinx
    577 BCE

    Riddle of the Sphinx

    Oedipus arrives in Thebes and solves the riddle of the Sphinx. He is then made their king.
  • New Plague in Thebes
    560 BCE

    New Plague in Thebes

    There is a new plague in Thebes. Oedipus sends his brother Creon to the oracle for information.
  • Oracle gives the new prophecy
    559 BCE

    Oracle gives the new prophecy

    The oracle told Creon that the plague wouldn't end until the killer Laius is found.
  • Tiresias
    558 BCE

    Tiresias

    Oedipus sends Tiresias who returns with news that Oedipus killed Laius.
  • The Truth?
    557 BCE

    The Truth?

    Jocasta tells the story of how her husband was killed at a three-way crossroad. Oedipus also explains how we killed a man in self-defense at a similar area.
  • Message from Corinth
    556 BCE

    Message from Corinth

    Jocasta receives news that Oedipus's father, Polybus, had in fact died. The city state also wants their prince to return.
  • More News
    555 BCE

    More News

    The shepherd tells Oedipus that he doesn't have to worry about sleeping with his mother because Merope isn't his real mother, and that he was adopted as a baby.
  • The Truth Emerges
    553 BCE

    The Truth Emerges

    Oedipus realized that he was the one who slept with his mother and killed his father. He discovers Jocasta dead by hanging herself. He takes the pins off her dress and uses them to blind himself. Creon takes over as king.
  • Oedipus discovers his resting place
    535 BCE

    Oedipus discovers his resting place

    Oedipus finds out that he is in the grove belonging to the goddess of Eumenides, the god of fate. The original prophecy had predicted this to be his final resting place.
  • News of Thebes
    534 BCE

    News of Thebes

    Oedipus's other daughter, Ismene, comes from Apollo's oracle at Delphi. She finds out that her brother Eteocles has overthrown Polynices. Polynices is now in Argos gathering troops for an attack on Thebes. She also says that the city of Oedipus's eventual burial will be good luck for the city, so Polynices and Creon are coming to get Oedipus so he can die in Thebes.
  • Theseus helps Oedipus
    533 BCE

    Theseus helps Oedipus

    King Theseus helps protect Oedipus from his sons and Creon. Oedipus warns him that the city will be angry.
  • Creon finds Oedipus
    532 BCE

    Creon finds Oedipus

    Creon enters the grove and tries to take Oedipus, instead, he takes Ismene and Antigone instead, Theseus pursues.
  • 530 BCE

    Oedipus finally dies

    Oedipus discovers that it is time to die. Oedipus asks Theseus to take him to a burial site. Theseus will only tell his heirs where he is buried to protect Athens.
  • Polynices arrives
    531

    Polynices arrives

    Polynices asks for help from his father. Oedipus tells Theseus to drive him out but Antigone intervenes. Oedipus curses his two sons saying they will kill each other. Polynices asks his sisters to bury him if he dies in battle.