Oedipus Rex Part 3

Laius is warned by an oracle that his son will kill him

450 BCE

Baby Oedipus is saved by a shepherd, a servant of King Liaus

449 BCE

Laius and Jocasta have a baby

449 BCE

Lauis and Jocasta leave their baby outside to die, with his feet bound together

449 BCE

The Shepherd gives baby Oedipus to the messenger

448 BCE

The Messenger brings baby Oedipus to Polybus and Merope, who can't have children of their own.

447 BCE

Oedipus learns he is destined to kill his father and marry his mother, so he leaves Corinth and goes to Thebes

437 BCE

Oedipus encounters his father (who he doesn't recognize) and feuds with him, then kills him

436 BCE

Oedipus reaches Thebes, which is plagued by the Sphinx.

435 BCE

The Sphinx had created a riddle to be solved in order to save Thebes.

Oedipus solves the Sphinx's riddle.

435 BCE

The Sphinx killed herself.

Oedipus marries the widowed queen, Jocasta, and they have four children.

432 BCE

Messenger tells Jocasta that Polybus, Oedipus' biological father, died of natural causes

429 BCE

Oedipus claims he doesn't believe in the oracles, but is worried about one that said he would marry his mother and have children with her. The messenger also tells Oedipus he is not the real son of Polybus and Merope

Jocasta realizes who Oedipus is

429 BCE

Jocasta then warns Oedipus not to keep searching for answers about his past, but he is very curious.

Jocasta places an offering on the altar of Apollo

429 BCE

Jocasta kills herself after realizing she married her son.

428 BCE

Oedipus blinds himself and is sent into exile with some of his children.