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Oedipus Rex Timeline

  • Birth
    600 BCE

    Birth

    Oedipus was born of King Laius and Jocasta
  • Prophecy Led to Banishing
    599 BCE

    Prophecy Led to Banishing

    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

    Oedipus Being Taken In

    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

    Oedipus Leaves Home

    When Oedipus heard that he may be adopted, he leaves his home of Corinth.
  • Oedipus Hears of Prophecy
    596 BCE

    Oedipus Hears of Prophecy

    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

    Oedipus Kills Lauis

    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

    Riddle of the Sphinx

    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

    Plague in Thebes

    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

    Oracle Gives a New Prophecy

    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 the Seer

    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

    Getting Suspicious of the Truth

    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

    They Hear of Polybus' Death

    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

    Hears of Adoption

    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.
  • 587 BCE

    Truth Comes Out

    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

    Oedipus Realizes

    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

    There is News....

    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

    Oedipus Gets Help

    King Theseus of Athens promises to protect Oedipus from both his sons and Creon.
  • Creon Attempts
    583 BCE

    Creon Attempts

    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

    Here Comes Polynices

    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

    Death of Oedipus

    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

    The brothers die

    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.