Oedipus Rex Timeline

Birth

600 BCE

Oedipus was born of King Laius and Jocasta

Prophecy Led to Banishing

599 BCE

Once Jocasta heard of the prophecy that her child would kill her husband and marry her, she ordered a Shepard to kill Oedipus

Oedipus Being Taken In

598 BCE

They pinned Oedipus' feet together and sent him with the Shepard. He was then handed to a different Shepard in Corinth who took him to Polybus and Merope which then made him Prince of Corinth.

Oedipus Leaves Home

597 BCE

When Oedipus heard that he may be adopted, he leaves his home of Corinth.

Oedipus Hears of Prophecy

596 BCE

Oedipus goes to the Oracle of Delphi and learns of the prophecy that he will murder his father and marry his mother. He decides to permanently leave the city of Corinth,

Oedipus Kills Lauis

595 BCE

While traveling, Oedipus meets a gang of other travelers which then get in a fight with him and he kills Lauis without knowing who he is.

Riddle of the Sphinx

594 BCE

Oedipus then makes it to Thebes and solves the riddle of the Sphinx which made the people pronounce him as King. He then marries Jocasta not knowing that it is his mother.

Plague in Thebes

593 BCE

There is a new plague in Thebes which causes Oedipus, who now has 4 children with his mother, sends Jocasta's brother Creon to the Oracle for information.

Oracle Gives a New Prophecy

592 BCE

Creon comes back with information of a new prophecy which tells that the plague will stay in Thebes until the murder of Laius is solved and the killer is cursed and driven out.

Tiresias the Seer

591 BCE

Tiresias is a prophet that accuses Oedipus of being the killer of Laius who Oedipus calls for. Tiresias also says Laius' killer is both father and brother of his own children and son of his own wife.

Getting Suspicious of the Truth

590 BCE

Jocasta then tells of the killing of her husband Laius when he was attacked and killed while fighting. Oedipus then tells his story of how he was fighting a band of travelers at the same place and killed someone in self defense. They then send someone to find the only survivor of the killing.

They Hear of Polybus' Death

589 BCE

Corinth sends a message that Polybus has died and they want Oedipus to come back and rule. Jocasta and Oedipus are relieved that the Oedipus did not kill Polybus which leads them to believe the prophecy is wrong.

Hears of Adoption

588 BCE

Oedipus is told by the Messenger that he does not need to worry about the second part of the prophecy since Merope is not his actual mother. The messenger knows this because he is the Shepard that was given the baby in Corinth.

Truth Comes Out

587 BCE

The original shepard comes and tells that Jocasta was the mother of the baby and ordered him to be killed because of the prophecy.

Oedipus Realizes

586 BCE

Once Oedipus realizes that he truly did kill his father and marry his mother, he goes into the palace and sees that Jocasta had hanged herself because of what she had done. Oedipus then blinds himself with the pins from her dress and tells Creon to take care of the kids and becomes King.

There is News....

585 BCE

Oedipus' daughter Ismene goes to Apollo's Oracle at Delphi and learns that her brother Eteocles overthrew Polynices and is ruling Thebes with Creon, while Polynices is gathering troops for an attack on Thebes. She also learns that Oedipus being buried will be good luck so Creon and Polynices go to get Oedipus so he can die in Thebes.

Oedipus Gets Help

584 BCE

King Theseus of Athens promises to protect Oedipus from both his sons and Creon.

Creon Attempts

583 BCE

Creon tries to kidnap Oedipus but fails and kidnaps Ismene and Antigone instead. Theseus is then sent to rescue them.

Here Comes Polynices

582 BCE

Polynices comes to Oedipus for support but Oedipus asks Theseus to drive him out. Antigone then intervenes which causes Oedipus to curse his sons by saying that they will kill each other.

Death of Oedipus

581 BCE

Oedipus has come to a realization that his death is approaching and asks Theseus to do a correct burial. Theseus and Oedipus' heirs are the only ones that are to know of where Oedipus is buried in order to keep Athens safe.

The brothers die

581 BCE

Polynices attacks Thebes and both him and Eteocles die. Creon gives Eteocles a Hero's Burial but says that Polynices should just be eaten by the vultures.