why is there a plague in thebes oedipus why is there a plague in thebes oedipus

In Oedipus Rex, why does Oedipus blind himself? The citizens have become suppliants to the monuments of the gods, asking for mercy (Why sit ye here as suppliants, in your hands branches of olive filleted with wool?, lines 23; the common folk, with wreathed boughs crowd our two market-places, or before both shrines of Pallas congregate, or where Ismenus gives his oracles by fire, lines 1921) (2,3). The critical reading of Oedipus Rex, its comparison with Thucydides history, as well as the systematic review of the existing historical data, lead us to strongly suggest that this epidemic, for which the name Plague of Thebes may be used, was an actual historical fact, likely caused by B. abortus. The oracle has predicted that the burial place of Oedipus will bring good fortune to the city in which it is located, and both sons, as well as Creon, know of this prophecy. | $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Both Polynices and Creon are currently en route to try to take Oedipus into custody and thus claim the right to bury him in their kingdoms. He had four children by Jocasta. The stage directions state that. Oedipus promises to solve the mystery of Laiuss death, vowing to curse and drive out the murderer. Creon returns from the oracle to deliver what explanation he has been given, and WebOedipus met Jocasta and they were married, unknowingly completely fulfilling the prophecy. According to the World Health Organization, an epidemic is defined as a disease outbreak and, therefore, the occurrence of cases of disease in excess of what would normally be expected in a defined community, geographic area, or season (15). After years of wandering in exile from Thebes, Oedipus arrives in a grove outside Athens. The devastating plague that dominates Thebes is presented to the audience through the dialogue between Oedipus and the Priest (lines 1-67) (2,3).The king has already taken some action to deal with this harm by sending his brother-in-law, Creon, to the oracle at Delphi . Alternatively, the plague of Thebes could be a composite of >2 causative agents, as it has been suggested for the contemporary plague of Athens (6,7). Oedipus, the king, who is married to Jocasta and has four children, sends Creon (Jocasta's brother) to the oracle for information. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Please wait while we process your payment. In the historical case (Athens) and the dramatic case (Thebes), the populace turned to the temples looking for a divine solution to the disaster. . A plague has stricken Thebes. After blinding himself in anguish over what he has done, Oedipus allows himself to be exiled, and the plague ends. he mortality rate for untreated brucellosis is difficult to determine from the literature of the preantibiotic era (6); nevertheless, an 80% rate has been reported in situations of comorbidity with endocarditis (7). In Oedipus Rex, how does Oedipus's tragic flaw lead to his downfall? He marries Jocasta, Laius' widow. Oedipuss wife, Jocasta (also the widow of King Laius), enters and asks why the men shout at one another. It would not be irrational to trust the historical credibility of a literary text. One day long ago, he was tending his sheep when another shepherd approached him carrying a baby, its ankles pinned together. Oedipus asks the citizens to stop praying and focus on finding the cure (lines 142146) (2,3). for a group? to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Jocasta tells him that Laius was killed at a three-way crossroads, just before Oedipus arrived in Thebes. The characteristics of pathogens that might be responsible for the plague on the basis of Sophocles descriptions in Oedipus Rex are summarized in the Technical Appendix. The words of Tiresias strike fear into the hearts of Creon and the people of Thebes, and Creon reluctantly goes to free Antigone from the tomb where she has been imprisoned. Teachers and parents! Oedipus himself is the accursed person who brings the plague to Thebes. There were two shrines to her in Thebes. Hearing this, Oedipus fled his home, never to return. Hence, the citizens of Thebes were often called children of Cadmus or Cadmeians. Almost as soon as he has said this, Creon returns and tells the story which is to lead Oedipus to the truth, and to the conclusion that it would have been better for him never to have been born. Cookies used to track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data. Economopoulos). No one responds, and Oedipus furiously curses Laiuss murderer and anyone who is protecting him. A second messenger enters and describes scenes of suffering. WebOedipus is the king of Thebes when the action commences, and one facing the crisis of a plague. A central door and two lateral doors open onto a platform which runs the length of the facade. Joel Christensen is an associate professor of classical studies at Brandeis. The knowledge of the existence of a highly contagious and fatal disease is phrased clearly in these rhymes, strongly suggesting that Thebans were aware of the oncomingmost possibly from the adjacent city of Athensdanger (24). Jocasta rejoices, convinced that Polybuss death from natural causes has disproved the prophecy that Oedipus would murder his father. Oedipus saved Thebes by answering correctly, "Man, who crawls in infancy, walks upright in his prime, and leans on a cane in old age." Outraged, the Sphinx destroyed herself, and Oedipus became King of Thebes Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Oedipus is so filled with pride or hubris that he can't imagine he could possibly be the wrongdoer. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. Oedipus explains to Jocasta that the prophet has charged him with Laiuss murder, and Jocasta replies that all prophecies are false. He calls it a plague that disrupts the production of humans and crops. Comment submitted successfully, thank you for your feedback. The Chorus calls on various Olympians to aid Thebes. Sophocles epidemic seems to have enough strength to appear as a historical base on which the theatrical economy of the play is evolving (12). Wed love to have you back! The citizens of Thebes hated Laius, so they didn't care. Sophocles told how Oedipus was saved from death as an infant and raised in Corinth. A messenger enters to narrate the mysterious death of Oedipus: his death seemed a disappearance of sorts, the lightless depths of Earth bursting open in kindness to receive him (18861887). The play has been labeled an analytical tragedy, meaning that the crucial events which dominate the play have happened in the past (2,3). creating and saving your own notes as you read. A plague followed and the stage was set for the action of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex. Creon condemns both Antigone and Ismene to death. The twins Eteocles and Polyneices, who had been cursed by their father, Oedipus, failed to agree on which of them was to succeed to the Theban throne and decided to rule in alternate years. (Spoiler alert: It's his own bad leadership.) Latest answer posted December 09, 2017 at 3:30:49 PM. The priest responds that the city is dying and asks the king to save Thebes. It is set in the kingdom of Thebes in Bust of Sophocles in the Colonnade of the Muses in the Achilleion, Corfu, Greece, July 2011. But Tiresias answers enigmatically. Dont have an account? Not knowing where to go now, Antigone says they will have to wander forever alone. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Pedagogical Institute, Hellenic Ministry of Education. According to the Oracle, Apollo regards religious or moral pollution (miasma) resulting from the murder of the former king, Laius,to be the cause of the plague and that the cause of it (i.e. The opening of the drama, with the city of Thebes in the midst of plague has often been, historically, taken as a reference to the plague that devastated Athens in the opening years of the Peloponnesian War and has been used to assist in the dating of this play (13). Oedipus sends for the man who survived the attack, a shepherd, in the hope that he will not be identified as the murderer. Tiresias advises that Creon allow Polynices to be buried, but Creon refuses. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. "The Murder of Laius by Oedipus," 1867, by Joseph Blanc. Haemon seems at first to side with his father, but gradually admits his opposition to Creons stubbornness and petty vindictiveness. Kousoulis AA, Economopoulos KP, Poulakou-Rebelakou E, et al. Theseus grants them this, and the Chorus tells the girls to stop their weeping, for all rests in the hands of the gods. Finally, Oedipus is vehement in his promises of dire punishment for Laiuss murderer, even if the murderer turns out to be someone close to Oedipus himself. Teiresias reluctantly informs Oedipus that he is the murderer and has been living intimately with his mother. Creon informs the court on his return that the plague will lift once the person who murdered the late King Laius is banished from Thebes. An oracle warned Laius, the king of Thebes prior to Oedipus, that his son would murder him. He now feels much more inclined to agree with the queen in deeming prophecies worthless and viewing chance as the principle governing the world. This is presented to the audience through the dialogue between Oedipus, the king, and the Priest (167). Free trial is available to new customers only. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. 3. Having just escaped the Sphinx, searching out Laius's murderer seemed impossible to Creon. His guards lead him back into the palace. A lethal plague is described in this drama. You'll also receive an email with the link. The limp marks Oedipus's fate, even though he does not know it yet. The devastating plague that dominates Thebes is presented to the audience through the dialogue between Oedipus and the Priest (lines 167) (2,3). We adopted a critical approach to Oedipus Rex in analyzing the literary description of the disease, unraveling its clinical features, and defining a possible underlying cause. Oedipus must find the killer of former King Laius to save the city. Oedipus limps because Laius and Jocasta (who he doesn't know are his parents) pinned his ankles together when he was an infant to thwart the prophecy that he would kill Laius (they failed). Oedipus curses himself, proclaiming that should he discover the murderer to be a member of his own family, that person should be struck by the same exile and harsh treatment that he has just wished on the murderer. Lines 179181 turn out to be of high interest: wasted thus by death on death all our city perishes; corpses spread infection round (2,3). Oedipus castigates the citizens of Thebes for letting the murderer go unknown so long. The Plague of Thebes, a Historical Epidemic in Sophocles Oedipus Rex. Although the above points are of great relevance, they lack the possibility of historical verification and are mainly based on the comparative and critical assessment of Sophocles and Thucydides work. In the first scene of the play, Sophocles presents the basic social and historical axes around which he will unfold the plot. When Oedipus discovers the truth of his actions, he is wrought with horror and self-loathing. Q. Oedipus sends for Tiresias who reveals that Oedipus is the cause of the plague. Oedipus sends Creon to Delphi to consult the oracle, or priestess, there, about the cause of the plague in Thebes. Thus, according to the tragedys rhymes and with respect to literary talk, this plague should be treated as an epidemic. You can view our. The story of Oedipus is the subject of Sophocles' tragedy Oedipus . These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. They want King Oedipus to save the city. The Plague of Thebes, a Historical Epidemic in Sophocles Oedipus Rex. . Sophocles and The Oedipus Plays Background. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime. In Greek mythology, King Oedipus of Thebes who unwittingly killed his father and married his mother. Unfortunately, the story comes out that Oedipus murdered Laius on the road from Corinth to Thebes, when Laius and his party would not move aside to let him pass. Despite the warning, Theseus agrees to help Oedipus. In this way Theseus and his heirs may always rule over a safe city. Best Answer. The point of attack is when Creon returns from the Oracle at Delphi with the message that the source of the plague is the murder of the old king, Laius. Saving Lives, Protecting People, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece (A.A. Kousoulis, K.P. By the end of the play, Oedipus discovers that while attempting to avoid his destiny, he unknowingly killed his father at a place where three roads join as he was fleeing Corinth. Hearing this, Oedipus resolves to solve the mystery of Laiuss murder. D. The sphinx was indulging in sexually and other pleasure and wasn't paying much attention to state affairs. March 3, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 In his first speech, which he delivers to an old priest whose suffering he seeks to alleviate, he continually voices his concern for the health and well-being of his people. Please wait while we process your payment. Blind and frail, he walks with the help of his daughter, Antigone. Oedipus quickly hatches plans to deal with both his peoples suffering and Laiuss unsolved murder, and he has even anticipated the Choruss suggestions that he send someone to the oracle and call forth Tiresias. At Jocastas summons, Oedipus comes outside, hears the news, and rejoices with her. Oedipus was perhaps doomed from birth, for many prophecies were told about Oedipus before and after his birth. CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. The references to the decline of land and fields could be an example of poetic exaggeration or a suggestion that the fruits or ears may participate in the transmission route of the plague (a blight is on our harvest in the ear, line 25) (2,3). He tells Jocasta that, long ago, when he was the prince of Corinth, he overheard someone mention at a banquet that he was not really the son of the king and queen. Oedipus asks that this shepherd be brought forth to testify, but Jocasta, beginning to suspect the truth, begs her husband not to seek more information. Oedipus replies that he is more eager than anyone to find out the cause of the pollution and remove it. He sends Creon, his brother-in-law, to the oracle at Athens. Complete your free account to request a guide. Creon returns with a message from the oracle: the plague will end when the murderer of Laius, former king of Thebes, is caught and expelled; the murderer is within the city. on 50-99 accounts. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Citizens are dying from plague, crops fail, women are dying in childbirth and their babies are stillborn. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Polynices tells Oedipus that he never condoned his exile, and that Eteocles is the bad son, having bribed the men of Thebes to turn against Polynices. Homer related that Oedipus's wife and mother hanged herself when the truth of their relationship became known, though Oedipus apparently continued to rule at Thebes until his death. After much prodding from Oedipus, Tiresias claims that Oedipus is the source of . Searching for the miasma, Oedipus summons the blind prophet Tiresias to reveal who is responsible for this evil (lines 300313) (2,3). It is not quite clear why Ares is being called responsible for this plague, since there is no other such reference in the play. At the start of the play, the city of Thebes is suffering terribly. The blight It is an unfair punishment over the sins of one man (Chapter 22 . He thinks he knows what happenedthieves killed Laiusbut is actually blind to the truth. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Summary. Oedipus Rex Summary. Tiresias predicts that the gods will bring down curses upon the city. Accessed 4 Mar. So the tragic truth is that Oedipus, who unwittingly killed his father, the previous king, is the cause of the Theban plague. Creon reports that the gods have caused this plague in response to the murder of Laius, the previous king of Thebes, and they demand that the murderer ("the pollution of this land") be killed or exiled. Creon is more pragmatic and less inclined to take action. Section 6: Oedipus the King, lines 338-706, Section 8: Oedipus the King, lines 1008-1310, Section 9: Oedipus the King, lines 1311-1684, Section 10: Oedipus at Colonus, lines 1-576, Section 11: Oedipus at Colonus, lines 577-1192, Section 12: Oedipus at Colonus, lines 1193-1645, Section 13: Oedipus at Colonus, lines 1646-2001. Apparently, it has not heard Creons news about Laiuss murderer. $24.99 Although we are able to see him as a mere puppet of fate, at some points, the irony is so magnified that it seems almost as if Oedipus brings catastrophe upon himself willingly. Oedipus asks the priests why they have come. To know the cause of the plague, Oedipus sent Creon, Jocasta's brother, consult the oracle at Delphi , and learned that the plague would only cease after the murderer of Laius had been punished. He asks if anyone knows who killed Laius, promising that the informant will be rewarded and the murderer will receive no harsher punishment than exile. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Photo courtesy Effie Poulakou-Rebelakou. The citizens gather outside the palace of their king, Oedipus, asking him to take action. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. Oedipus promised to save his city, so he ordered his brother-in-law Creon to consult the oracle at Delphi. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. Sometimes it can end up there. Given the potential medical interest of Oedipus Rex, we decided to adopt a critical perspective by analyzing the literary descriptions of the plague, unraveling its clinical features, defining the underlying cause, and discussing possible therapeutic options. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Ace your assignments with our guide to The Oedipus Plays! If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. But the shepherd pitied the child, and decided that the prophecy could be avoided just as well if the child were to grow up in a foreign city, far from his true parents. Oblivious to the truth, King Oedipus sets to find !Sophocles - Oedipus the King! The pathogen of the plague described in Oedipus Rex reflects the complexity of every historically emerging zoonosis. On the platform Struggling with distance learning? Oedipus curses and insults the old man, going so far as to accuse him of the murder. Oedipus the King: What is the significance of the plays title? This skirmish occurred at the very crossroads where Laius was killed. Another example of Oedipus's strong leadership. 20% Economopoulos, E. Poulakou-Rebelakou, G. Androutsos, S. Tsiodras), Society of Junior Doctors, Athens (A.A. Kousoulis, K.P. The priest glorifies his honor and describes that a plague is destroying the whole city: blight in the city causing famine and sickness. Data is collected weekly and does not include downloads and attachments. During the time the play is set, Laius is deceased, but he is a critical . Oedipus eagerly attempts to uncover the truth, acting decisively and scrupulously refusing to shield himself from the truth. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. He sends Creon, his brother-in-law, to the oracle at Athens . to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Sometimes it can end up there. He has already sent Creon to ask the Delphic Oracle's advice. The reference to the Sphinx reminds the audience that Oedipus is a genuine hero. Outside the palace, a messenger approaches Jocasta and tells her that he has come from Corinth to inform Oedipus that his father, Polybus, is dead, and that Corinth has asked Oedipus to come and rule there in his place. After an interlude in which Oedipus tells the Chorus who he is, Oedipuss second daughter, Ismene, enters, having gone to learn news from Apollos oracle at Delphi. Subscribe now. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. The gods serve punishment for Oedipus's guilt by inflicting a plague on Thebes. Oedipus, the king of Thebes, has sent his brother-in-law, Creon, to the house of Apollo to ask the oracle how to end the plague. http://www.who.int/topics/disease_outbreaks/en/, The Plague of Thebes, a Historical Epidemic in Sophocles Oedipus Rex, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Kousoulis AA, Economopoulos KP, Poulakou-Rebelakou E, Androutsos G, Tsiodras S. The Plague of Thebes, a Historical Epidemic in Sophocles Oedipus Rex. The plague of Athens: epidemiology and paleopathology. Theseus does in fact return with Oedipuss daughters shortly. In despair Jocasta hanged herself, while Oedipus blinded himself in an agony of remorse. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. Sending for Theseus, he tells the king he must carry out certain rites on his body, and that by doing so he may assure divine protection to his city. Oedipus, King of Thebes, sends his brother-in-law, Creon, to ask the advice of the oracle at Delphi, concerning a plague ravaging Thebes. The story would have been a familiar one to Sophocles's audience. The date of the Oedipus Tyrannus of Sophocles. A plague besets the city, and Oedipus enters to find a priest and crowd of children praying to the gods to free them from the curse. At the beginning of Sophocles'Oedipus Rex,there issterility and a plague at Thebes. Creon curses him and threatens to slay Antigone before his very eyes. Despite his anger and harshness, Oedipus is a noble figure because he really does feel the grief of his people and is utterly single-minded in tracking down the source of their distress. (VladoubidoOo/CC BY-SA 3.0) From there, Oedipus goes on to Thebes, and on the way answers the Sphinx's riddle. Creon enters, carrying Haemons body and wailing against his own tyranny, which he knows has caused his sons death. Latest answer posted April 01, 2021 at 5:20:02 PM, Latest answer posted November 20, 2019 at 12:42:51 AM. The fate of Oedipus emerges as a truly tragic one, not so much because he caused the plague, but because of the characters own personal tragedy (Figure 2). He tells Jocasta that, long ago, when he was the . Thank you for taking the time to confirm your preferences. The king has already taken some action to deal with this harm by sending his brother-in-law, Creon, to the oracle at Delphi to ask for a salvation plan (lines 6872). TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Oedipus asks why the Thebans made no attempt to find the murderers, and Creon reminds him that Thebes was then more concerned with the curse of the Sphinx. Credit: Wikipedia/Public domain. C. The sphinx was terrorizing Thebes, so citizens couldn't investigate. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. The main conflict is when Tiresias tells Oedipus that he is responsible for the plague, and Oedipus refuses to believe Tiresias. This assignment asks readers to pick a person to blame for the tragedy of Oedipus. Refine any search. A new hypothesis for the cause of the plague of Athens. Already a member? A. The Plague in the Land of Thebes. The Chorus enters, calling on the gods Apollo, Athena, and Artemis to save Thebes. Oedipus and the Sphinx, by Gustave Moreau, 1864, The Met. Purchasing Oedipus doesn't believe him since he did not know who Laius was when he killed him and sends him away. He therefore traveled to the oracle of Delphi, who did not answer him but did tell him he would murder his father and sleep with his mother. Arriving at Thebes, Oedipus was confronted by the Sphinx: a monster that was half woman and half lion. They plead to see their fathers tomb, but Theseus insists that Oedipus has forbidden it. 2 oedipus rex study guide practice test questions final . A lethal plague is described in this drama. Oedipus is a vigorous and active leader. Essays on oedipus the king. In the first scene of the play, Sophocles presents the basic social and historical axes around which he will unfold the plot. Missing, he turned the sword against himself and died embracing Antigones body. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. He asks why Tiresias did nothing when Thebes suffered under a plague once before. DNA examination of ancient dental pulp incriminates typhoid fever as a probable cause of the Plague of Athens. However, Thucydides correlation of the plague of Athens with the Peloponnesian War (431404 bc) (5) gives us the opportunity to state that Sophocles connects this epidemic of Thebes with the plague of Athens and attempts to point out the disastrous effects wars always have. Sophocles lived between 496 and 406 bc; although he seems to have written 123 plays, only 7 have survived in a complete form (1). is the priest doing this there is a plague on the city oedipus asked him to the sphinx has attacked the city it s a holiday oedipus rex questions and answers enotes com Oedipus himself remained in Thebes for a few years, a blind and aging misfit cared for only by his daughters, Antigone and Ismene. He's one step ahead of the suggestions his subjects make to him and has already sent for Tiresias. Contact us Now "a black sea of terror" has overwhelmed him because he was all too successful in solving this latest riddle of the pestilence upon Thebes. We take your privacy seriously. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Hellenic holocaust: a historical clinico-pathologic conference. Surely it suggests exactly the opposite. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Historical certainty can be added by studying the alliances and the warfare involving Thebes during the era of Sophocles (e.g., Boeotian prefecture, Athenian dynasty, Spartan alliance, Persian wars) (14). The shepherd and the messenger slowly exit the stage. Her description of Laiuss murder, however, sounds familiar to Oedipus, and he asks further questions. For example, when the old priest tells Oedipus that the people of Thebes are dying of the plague, Oedipus says that he could not fail to see this (6872). Renews March 10, 2023 Creon, covetous of royal power, is all too happy to oblige. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. A critical reading of Oedipus Rex and a comparison with Thucydides history, as well as a systematic review of historical data, strongly suggests that this epidemic was an actual event, possibly caused by Brucella abortus. In the end, it turns out that Oedipus has also murdered his father. Skip to document. Many people are falling ill, and Oedipus begins to believe that there is a divine cause for the plague. Oedipus the King opens with a priest describing the terrible plague that has come upon Thebes and begging Oedipus for help. Among the diseases caused by these pathogens that can affect humans are the following: 1) tularemia, which is a disease mainly transmitted through rabbits; 2) smallpox, which is not a cattle zoonosis; 3) leishmaniasis, which is not a highly contagious disease; and 4) leptospirosis, which has been associated with epidemics after rainfall and flooding in relation to rodent infestation. View data is from . The score is derived from an automated algorithm, and represents a weighted count of the amount of attention Altmetric picked up for a research output. The priest begs Oedipus to help the city and rescue it from the clutches of famine, fire, and plague. Oedipus In Greek mythology and literature, son of Laius (king of Thebes) and Jocasta; father of Antigone, Ismene, Eteocles and Polynices by his own mother. PART I: Before Reading STATEMENT RESPONSE (3-5 sentences) It is important to know who we truly are, where we came . It was a popular subject for drama, and Sophocles himself wrote other plays about it. Creon appears in order to abduct Oedipus, but, proving unsuccessful, he kidnaps Antigone and Ismene instead. Wailing on the altar stair, wives and grandams rend the air, long-drawn moans and piercing cries blent with prayers and litaniesSophocles, Oedipus Rex, lines 184186. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! As proof, she notes that the Delphic oracle once told Laius he would be murdered by his son, when in fact his son was cast out of Thebes as a baby, and Laius was murdered by a band of thieves. The Sphinx had been terrorizing Thebes for an undisclosed amount of time before Oedipus was able to defeat it. He did not know that his parents in Corinth were not his real parents.