Oedipus Rex

Oedipus's birth

600 BCE

Oedipus was born unto a wealthy family outside of Athens.

Jocasta hears the prophecy.

599 BCE

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

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 hears a rumor that states that he was adopted, so he leaves Corinth.

Oedipus gets the prophecy

579 BCE

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 finds a group of travelers who get into a fight and kills Laius without knowing who he is.

Riddle of the Sphinx

577 BCE

Oedipus arrives in Thebes and solves the riddle of the Sphinx. He is then made their king.

New Plague in Thebes

560 BCE

There is a new plague in Thebes. Oedipus sends his brother Creon to the oracle for information.

Oracle gives the new prophecy

559 BCE

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

Tiresias

558 BCE

Oedipus sends Tiresias who returns with news that Oedipus killed Laius.

The Truth?

557 BCE

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

Oedipus finally dies

530 BCE

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 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.