Oedipus King of ThebesTranslated into English Rhyming Verse with Explanatory Notes
Cadmus

Polybus and Meropê, King and Queen of Corinth, supposed to be the father and mother of Oedipus.

Polybus and Meropê

Apollo, the God specially presiding over the oracle of Delphi and the island Delos: he is also called Phoebus, the pure; Loxias, supposed to mean "He of the Crooked Words"; and Lykeios, supposed to mean "Wolf-God." He is also the great Averter of Evil, and has names from the cries "I-ê" (pronounced "Ee-ay") and "Paian," cries for healing or for the frightening away of evil influences.

Apollo

Phoebus

Loxias

Lykeios

Kithairon, a mass of wild mountain south-west of Thebes.

Kithairon

[Pg 2]

[Pg 2]

ARGUMENT

While Thebes was under the rule of Laïus and Jocasta there appeared a strange and monstrous creature, "the riddling Sphinx," "the She-Wolf of the woven song," who in some unexplained way sang riddles of death and slew the people of Thebes. Laïus went to ask aid of the oracle of Delphi, but was slain mysteriously on the road. Soon afterwards there came to Thebes a young Prince of Corinth, Oedipus, who had left his home and was wandering. He faced the Sphinx and read her riddle, whereupon she flung herself from her rock and died. The throne being vacant was offered to Oedipus, and with it the hand of the Queen, Jocasta.

Laïus

Jocasta

Laïus

Oedipus


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