Oedipus the King Character Map
Nicole Duran
Sophocles
- He wrote the play
- Born in 496 B.C. in Colonus
- Wealthy family
- Educated by the best tutors in town. He was also taught music and art.
- Lived to be 90 years old.
- Wrote 123 plays but only 7 were passed forward to the world.
Corinth
- Where Oedipus was sent when he was a child by his parents servant because they heard a rumor from the Oracle of Apollo about his son wanting to kill Oedipus.
The Oracle of Apollo
- Where Oedipus sends his brother-in- law, Creon to find answers on how to help the city when a plague strikes.
Laius
- King of Thebes
- Grandson of Cadmus
- Married to Queen Jocasta
- Biological father of Oedipus
- Killed at a crossroads outside Thebes.
Jocasta
- Queen of Thebes
- Married to Laius
- Biological mother of Oedipus
- Married Oedipus after he went to Thebes to kill Laius and try to escape the fate an oracle had predicted for him.
- Mother to the four children of Oedipus; Antigone, Ismene,Eteocles and Polynices
Oedipus
- King of Thebes
- Son of Jocasta and Laius
- Was given to King Polybus and Queen Merope when he was a child
- Married Jocasta and had four children
- Only man to solve the Sphinx riddle
- Killed his father Laius which caused him to be expelled from Thebes.
King Polybus
- Kind of Corinth
- Married to Queen Merope
- Took care of Oedipus
Queen Merope
- Queen of Corinth
- Married to King Polybus
- Took care of Oedipus
Creon
- Oedipus brother-in- law
Antigone & Ismene
- Daughters of Oedipus and Jocasta
Eteocles & Polynices
- Sons of Oedipus and Jocasta
- Killed each other in a battle for the control of Thebes after his father was expelled from Thebes.
Sphinx
- Attacked Thebes
- Killed everyone who failed answering her riddle
Fate, Family, and Oedipus Rex: Crash Course Literature 202