Antigone

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Sphinx does not destroy the city of Thebes in "Oedipus Rex."

Specifically, the monster sets up camp outside the city and forces everyone coming and going to answer a seemingly unanswerable riddle. Those who have no answer are killed by her. But Oedipus comes along and solves the riddle before the Sphinx can devour every last Theban or destroy the city.

No, Athena is not in the play "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Athena is the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom. Along with Apollo the sun god and Artemis the huntress, she is considered one of three guardian gods of Thebes. But she is not part of the cast of characters nor is her name even mentioned in the play.

'Tragic' refers to an unhappy turn of events. That's the perfect description of Theban King Oedipus' life. Specifically, he's a much respected and admired ruler who is happy in his personal life with his four attractive, intelligent children and his beautiful, kind wife.

But before play's end, Oedipus ends up blind, homeless, unemployed and widowed. He loses everything that gives him meaning and that ensures the admiration and respect of others. His albeit unknowing fall from grace is complete and tragic. He goes from being a personal and professional role model of happiness and success to becoming a despised and scorned murderer, sex offender and traitor.

Legality, morality, obedience and respect are the appearances and illegality, immorality, disobedience and disrespect the realities in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (c. 495 B.C.E. - c. 405 B.C.E.)

Specifically, the royal couple formed by Theban King Oedipus and Theban Queen Jocasta has the appearance of a happy, healthy family life. The couple seems to serve as a role model of the happy successes inherent in clean, decent living. The royal consort and her second, younger husband show respect to divine law, gods, and Theban traditions.

But the reality is an incestuous marriage of a mother to her only son who thereby becomes half-brother to his own children. At first glance, Oedipus looks every bit the respected ruler of honor and integrity. In reality, he turns out to be the albeit unknowing killer of his father and royal predecessor as well as the deliberate, two-time violator of divinely-ordained purification rituals.