Oedipus Rex

  • Oedipus was born
    600 BCE

    Oedipus was born

    King Laius and Queen Jocasta have a son.
  • Prophecy Was Made
    599 BCE

    Prophecy Was Made

    The Oracle of Apollo prophesied that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother.
  • King Laius takes action
    598 BCE

    King Laius takes action

    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

    Oedipus is adopted

    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 leaves Corinth and gets prophecy

    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

    Oedipus kills his father

    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

    Plague strikes Thebes

    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

    Truth about the plague

    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

    Tiresias tells truth

    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 shares information about Laius

    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

    Good News from Corinth

    News from Corinth says that Polybus, Oedipus' "father" has died. They are relieved that the prophecies are not true.
  • Adoption is discovered
    557 BCE

    Adoption is discovered

    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

    Oedipus learns the truth

    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

    Jocasta dies

    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.