Sophocles’ Sophocles’ Oedipus the Oedipus the KingKing

Ancient Greek dramaAncient Greek dramaOedipusOedipus is one of a is one of a trilogytrilogyAntigone andOedipus at Colonus are the other two

Easily one of the most Easily one of the most famous of the Greek famous of the Greek playsplays

Greek DramaGreek DramaPerformePerforme

d in large, d in large, open-air open-air theaterstheaters

Theater of Theater of EpidaurosEpidauros

Greek DramaGreek DramaTheater of EpidaurosTheater of Epidauros

Greek DramaGreek Drama

Players Players used used masks to masks to depict depict emotionsemotions

Greek DramaGreek Drama

A timeline…A timeline…http://www.arlymasks.com/timeline.htmhttp://www.arlymasks.com/timeline.htm

Oedipus confronts the Oedipus confronts the SphinxSphinx

Detail from a vase painting

Oedipus confronts the Oedipus confronts the SphinxSphinx

Another vase detail.

How is the emphasis of this depiction different from the previous vase?

Oedipus confronts the Oedipus confronts the SphinxSphinx

The SphinxThe SphinxA statue of the A statue of the

Sphinx, called Sphinx, called the Naxian the Naxian Sphinx (made Sphinx (made from Naxian from Naxian marble)marble)

Created 570-Created 570-560 B.C. 560 B.C.

Discovered at Discovered at Delphi in 1861Delphi in 1861

Oedipus the KingOedipus the KingThe kingdom of Thebes is suffering from a terrible plague.

““For the city…can no For the city…can no longer lift her head from longer lift her head from beneath thebeneath the angry angry waves of deathwaves of death.”.”

Oedipus the KingOedipus the KingThe kingdom of Thebes is suffering from a terrible plague.

““A blight has fallen on A blight has fallen on the the fruitful blossomsfruitful blossoms of of the land, the the land, the herdsherds among the pastures, the among the pastures, the barren pangs of womenbarren pangs of women..

Oedipus the KingOedipus the KingThe kingdom of Thebes is suffering

from a terrible plague.

“And the flaming god, the And the flaming god, the malign plaguemalign plague, has swooped , has swooped upon us, and ravages the upon us, and ravages the town: he town: he lays waste to the lays waste to the house of Cadmushouse of Cadmus, but , but enriches Hadesenriches Hades with groans with groans and tears.”and tears.”

Oedipus the KingOedipus the King

Oedipus sends Creon to visit the oracle at Delphi--the temple of Apollo—to discover how Thebes can be saved.

The Temple of ApolloThe Temple of Apollo

The Temple of ApolloThe Temple of Apollo

Oedipus the KingOedipus the KingThe oracle at Delphi tells The oracle at Delphi tells

Creon that the murderers Creon that the murderers of Laius, the previous king of Laius, the previous king of Thebes, must be of Thebes, must be brought to justice or the brought to justice or the plague will continue.plague will continue.

““What is sought for can What is sought for can be caught; only that which be caught; only that which is not watched escapes.”is not watched escapes.”

Oedipus the KingOedipus the KingOedipus vows to seek the Oedipus vows to seek the murderers out himself.murderers out himself.

““Avenging Laius, Avenging Laius, therefore, I serve myself.”therefore, I serve myself.”

• But is he asking for But is he asking for troubletrouble??

““For with the god's help For with the god's help our good fortune--or our our good fortune--or our ruin--will be made certain.”ruin--will be made certain.”