Antigone

That they oppose but fear him is what Haemon says about the people of Thebes' allegiance to Creon in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Prince Haemon advises his father, King Creon, that the recent edict of non-burial of the disloyal Theban dead is unpopular among Thebans. He cautions that Thebans oppose Creon and support the rebellion of Princess Antigone, Haemon's betrothed and Creon's niece. He warns that Theban suffering increases daily, but that the signs are hidden by the people's fear of their sovereign.

That he is handed the three-day-old infant Oedipus and that he in turn hands the child over toPolybus are the reasons why the Corinthian messenger knows that Polybus is not Oedipus' father in "Oedipus the King" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the Corinthian messenger is tending his flock on the mountains outside Thebes. A Theban shepherd gives him a three-day-old infant that the royal household abandons and wants to have killed. The Corinthian decides to give the child to Polybus and Merope, the childless royal couple of Corinth. That child subsequently becomes Theban King Oedipus.

In the months preceding the author's death is the year in which "Oedipus at Colonus" is thought to have been written by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the play was the last of the three plays about Theban King Oedipus to be performed. In fact, it was not performed for the first time until after the ancient Greek dramatist's death. The performance was organized by Sophocles' family.

Identify the killer of the previous King of Thebes and have carried out as punishment exile or execution of the guilty are the commands that Creon receives from Apollo's shrine and that he shares with Oedipus in the play "Oedipus Rex" by ancient Greek playwright Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Thebes is losing harvests, livestock and newborns. Creon seeks the reason and the solution from the oracle at the shrine of Apollo. The oracle identifies the cause of the troubles as the unsolved murder of Laius years before and the solution as the tracking down and punishing of the guilty.

To report the suicides of Antigone, Eurydice and Haemonis the messenger's purpose in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the general role of the messenger is to add to the knowledge of the characters and the audience without complicating the stage and the plot with additional locations and actors. The precise purpose in this case is to bring news of the suicides of Theban Princess Antigone, Queen Eurydice and Prince Haemon. Additionally, the rules of ancient Greek drama forbid the onstage depiction of violence, and the messenger therefore is a way of getting around this prohibition.

Appreciation of previous support and of continued respect is Creon's attitude toward the chorus during the scene in which he delivers his edict in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon mentions that the chorus of Theban elders has a proven track record of loyalty and obedience regarding the crown and throne of Thebes regardless of who the legitimate wearer and occupant is. He is concerned about the recent civil war over the royal succession. He wants to make sure that Thebes is not divided again in such a violent way and that the chorus will be as loyal, obedient, respectful and supportive to him as to previous monarchs.

Creon has power in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon heads the city government in Thebes. He is not in any power sharing arrangement with any one. But he must respect the insights of the chorus of Theban elders and of Teiresias the blind prophet. He also needs to respect the weight of Theban tradition and the will of the gods.

Ismene is the last remaining survivor of Oedipus' family in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Eteocles and Polyneices, Theban King Oedipus' twin sons, die just before the play's action begins. Princess Antigone dies during the last half of the play. Ismene is released from suspicion of criminal activity during the first half of the play. Nothing more is said about her. But other sources make her into the longest-lived of Oedipus' children since she dies during the re-opening of the civil war over the Theban royal succession.

It is as the victor that the chorus sees Creon at the beginning of the first scene in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the chorus gathers because they have a royal summons. They know that information will be shared. They look forward to hearing what Creon has to say since he is on the winning side of the first civil war over the Theban royal succession.

Consulting the Delphic oracle is what happens immediately after Oedipus flees Corinth in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, subsequent Theban King Oedipus leaves Corinth to seek answers to questions about his parentage. In the event of unanswerable questions, royals seek divine wisdom expressed through their oracles. The most respected oracle is at Delphi, which is where Oedipus goes.

Colonus is where Theban King Oedipus died.

Colonus was located to the northwest of the important city of Athens. It was famous for a temple of the sea god Poseidon, a still-standing temple to the blacksmith god Hephaestus, and a sacred grove to the Eumenides, the gracious, kind-hearted or kindly' female deities of vengeance, fate, and the 'anger of the dead'. It also was famous as the hometown of the generations of the wealthy, powerful family that produced Sophocles [496 B.C.E. - 406 B.C.E.], the playwright who told the tragic story of Oedipus and his descendants.