TLDR;
The story of Oedipus is a tragic tale of fate, prophecy, and unintended consequences. Born into royalty in Thebes, Oedipus is abandoned as an infant due to a prophecy that he would murder his father. Raised in Corinth, he learns of the prophecy and flees, inadvertently fulfilling it by killing his biological father and marrying his mother, the Queen of Thebes. Upon discovering the truth, Oedipus blinds himself and exiles himself from the city.
- Oedipus is abandoned as an infant to avoid a prophecy.
- He unknowingly fulfills the prophecy by killing his father and marrying his mother.
- Upon discovering the truth, Oedipus blinds and exiles himself.
The Prophecy and Abandonment of Oedipus [0:38]
In ancient Thebes, the king and queen receive a prophecy that their child will murder the king. To prevent this, they order a servant to abandon the baby Oedipus in the wilderness with his ankles pierced. However, the servant leaves him on a mountain instead of killing him. A shepherd from Corinth finds the baby and presents him to the childless king and queen of Corinth, who adopt him and name him Oedipus, meaning "swollen foot".
Oedipus's Flight from Corinth [2:16]
As Oedipus grows up, he learns from a drunk friend that he is adopted. Seeking the truth, he travels to the Oracle at Delphi, who foretells that he will murder his father. To avoid this fate, Oedipus decides never to return to Corinth, fearing he might kill his adoptive father.
The Encounter on the Road to Thebes [3:13]
On his way to Thebes, Oedipus encounters an older man who strikes him with a walking stick. Enraged, Oedipus kills the man and his servants, unknowingly fulfilling part of the prophecy by killing his biological father, the King of Thebes. One servant manages to escape the carnage.
The Riddle of the Sphinx [4:23]
Oedipus arrives at Thebes to find the city plagued by the Sphinx, a monster with the body of a lion, the wings of an eagle, and the breasts of a woman, who guards the city gates and devours those who cannot answer her riddle. The Sphinx asks: "What walks on four legs in the morning, two at noon, and three in the evening?". Oedipus correctly answers "man," causing the Sphinx to hurl herself off a mountain.
Oedipus Becomes King of Thebes [5:36]
Oedipus is hailed as a hero for defeating the Sphinx. With the previous king mysteriously gone, Oedipus is crowned king of Thebes and marries the queen, unknowingly his own mother. They have four children together.
The Plague and the Search for the Truth [6:03]
A drought strikes Thebes, and Oedipus sends his brother-in-law, Creon, to consult the Oracle at Delphi. Creon returns with the message that the drought will only end when the murderer of the former king is found. Oedipus investigates and is told to seek the blind prophet, who reveals that Oedipus himself killed the king.
The Revelation and Its Consequences [6:58]
Oedipus confronts the Queen, who realizes that he killed her husband, the former king. Oedipus tracks down the surviving servant from the road encounter, who confirms that Oedipus killed the king. The Queen commits suicide by hanging herself. Oedipus realizes the full horror of his actions: he has killed his father and married his mother, fulfilling the prophecy.
Oedipus's Punishment and Exile [8:44]
Overwhelmed by the truth, Oedipus blinds himself with the Queen's hairpins. He abdicates the throne and exiles himself from Thebes, leaving his sons to rule and taking his daughters, Antigone and Ismene, with him. In his old age, Oedipus is said to have been struck by a lightning bolt, which, according to ancient Greek tradition, means he was called to Mount Olympus to be with the gods.