That he will grow up to kill his own father is the prophecy that Oedipus' parents receive even before the child is born. In ancient Greece, killing a child is considered far less of an offense against mortals and gods than killing an adult. It's a particularly heinous offense to kill someone who's your own parent and sovereign. So Theban King Laius and Queen Jocasta think that they can prevent such a scenario by leaving the three-day-old Oedipus to die on a hillside.
An oracle had a prophecy that Oedipus would kill his father, king of Thebes, and marry his mother.
Oedipus is outraged at Tiresias' prophecy. He thinks Tiresias is lying to him and was "put up" to telling him that by Creon. Oedipus is so furious with Tiresias, that in the process he pushes Tiresias into making another prophecy (more of a premonition) that Oedipus will be blind.
thebes
When Oedipus was exposed on the mountain as a baby in an effort to thwart the prophecy that he would one day kill his father and marry his mother, the shepherd gave him to the messenger who then brought him back to the people Oedipus believed to be his parents.
Jocasta does not have faith in the prophecy because when Oedipus was a baby she abandoned him on a cliff and believed that he would die. She believed that he wouldn't have the chance to grow up, kill his father, and marry his mother. Jocasta believes that she lifted the prophecy.
An oracle had a prophecy that Oedipus would kill his father, king of Thebes, and marry his mother.
Oedipus is outraged at Tiresias' prophecy. He thinks Tiresias is lying to him and was "put up" to telling him that by Creon. Oedipus is so furious with Tiresias, that in the process he pushes Tiresias into making another prophecy (more of a premonition) that Oedipus will be blind.
thebes
When Oedipus was exposed on the mountain as a baby in an effort to thwart the prophecy that he would one day kill his father and marry his mother, the shepherd gave him to the messenger who then brought him back to the people Oedipus believed to be his parents.
By trying to evade the prophecy, Oedipus, unwittingly causes it to occur.
Jocasta does not have faith in the prophecy because when Oedipus was a baby she abandoned him on a cliff and believed that he would die. She believed that he wouldn't have the chance to grow up, kill his father, and marry his mother. Jocasta believes that she lifted the prophecy.
The shepherd reveals Oedipus's identity, and he is finally convinced that the prophecy came trueD.The shepherd reveals Oedipus's identity, and he is finally convinced that the prophecy came true.
Though Oedipus tried to avoid his fate, the prophecy was still fulfilled.
Laius, the king of Thebes in Greek mythology, gave his son Oedipus to a shepherd after learning of a prophecy that his son would kill him. The shepherd was instructed to abandon the baby on Mount Cithaeron, but instead, he took Oedipus to Corinth, where he was raised by King Polybus and Queen Merope. This act ultimately set into motion the tragic events of Oedipus's life, fulfilling the prophecy in unexpected ways.
Oedipus ran into his father at a crossroads and was able to kill his father in combat. In this way, Oedipus fulfilled the prophecy that caused Oedipus's father to abandon him in the first place.
Oedipus is still afraid of the prophecy because he fears that he might actually be the man of which they speak, this murderer of King Liaus; he also fears that he has married his own mother.
The shepherd reveals Oedipus's identity, and he is finally convinced that the prophecy came trueD.The shepherd reveals Oedipus's identity, and he is finally convinced that the prophecy came true.