Oedipus Rex

Oedipus was born

600 BCE

King Laius and Queen Jocasta have a son.

Prophecy Was Made

599 BCE

The Oracle of Apollo prophesied that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother.

King Laius takes action

598 BCE

King Laius was threatened by the prophecy. Oedipus' ankles are tied together and he is given to a shepherd The shepherd is ordered to kill Oedipus. The shepherd saved him by giving him to another shepherd.

Oedipus is adopted

598 BCE

The shepherd brings Oedipus to Corinth. Oedipus is adopted by King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth.

Oedipus leaves Corinth and gets prophecy

580 BCE

Oedipus hears rumors that he is adopted. He leaves Corinth and visits the Oracle at Delphi. He learns that he is going to kill his father and sleep with his mother. He makes the decision to never return to his home in Corinth.

Oedipus kills his father

578 BCE

While Oedipus is traveling, he comes across a group of men. There is an argument leading Oedipus to kill Laius, not knowing he is his father.

Plague strikes Thebes

560 BCE

Oedipus is now King of Thebus after solving the riddle of the Sphinx. He is married to Jocasta, the widow of Laius. He sends Creon to the Oracle to get information about the plague.

Truth about the plague

559 BCE

Creon brings back a new prophecy. The prophecy states that the plague will not end until the killer of Laius is killed or exciled.

Tiresias tells truth

559 BCE

Oedipus sends for Tiresias, a blind prophet who can see through the eyes of Apollo. He says Oedipus is the murderer of Laius.

Jocasta shares information about Laius

558 BCE

Jocasta tells Oedipus that Laius was killed at a three road crossing by thieves. Oedipus tells how he killed a man to defend himself when he was on the same road. A survivor of Laius' murder is called to come to the palace.

Good News from Corinth

558 BCE

News from Corinth says that Polybus, Oedipus' "father" has died. They are relieved that the prophecies are not true.

Adoption is discovered

557 BCE

The messenger tells Oedipus that he shouldn't worry about sleeping with his mother, Queen Merope, because he is adopted. He says a servent of Laius gave him Oedipus and he gave him to King Polybus and Queen Merope.

Oedipus learns the truth

557 BCE

The servant of Laius is called to the palace. He reveales that Jocasta was the mother of the baby and that she ordered him to kill the baby because of the prophecy. The shepherd said he took pity on the baby and gave him to the shepherd from Corinth.

Jocasta dies

556 BCE

Oedipus realizes that he has fulfilled the prophecy. He returns to the palace and finds Jocasta had hung herself. He takes the pens out of her hair and stabs his eyes. Oedipus asked Creon to take care of his children.