Chapter 18: Oedipus And The Myths Of Thebes Flashcards
What story was written by Homer?
Thebais (the story of Thebes
How did Cadmus find Thebes?
He was told to follow a cow with special markings and wherever it stopped would be where he created the city
Who did Cadmus want to sacrifice the bull to?
Zeus
What happened when Cadmus’ companions went to a sacred spring of Ares?
They were killed by a giant serpent
What happened when Cadmus knocked out and sowed the teeth of the snake after he killed it
From the serpents teeth were formed the Sparti (only five of them remained after fighting amongst themselves
How many years did Cadmus have to serve Ares?
Eight
Who did Cadmus marry?
Harmonia, daughter of Ares and Aphrodite
What did Aphrodite give Harmonia at her wedding?
A necklace made by Hephaestus and a robe that gave its owner wonderful dignity (but would jinx those who owned it in later generations)
What did Zeus turn Cadmus and Harmonia into?
Serpents and they lived in the Elysian fields
Who were the twins of Antiope?
Amphion and Zethus
How did Amphion and Zethus found Thebes?
Amphion used his lyre to bring stones up from the ground which helped build the city walls of Thebes
How many gates are in the walls of Thebes
Seven
Who was Oedipus’ father?
King Laius
Who were the adoptive parents of Oedipus?
Polybus and Merope
What does Oedipus mean?
Swollen foot
How did Oedipus save Thebes
He answered the riddle of the sphinx
How did Oedipus kill his father?
He killed him after his father accidentally ran him off the road with a chariot
Who were the children of Oedipus and Jocasata (his wife and mother)
Polynices, Eteocles, Antigone and Ismene
What happened when Oedipus realised he had married his mother?
Jocasta hung herself and Oedipus blinded himself with pins from her robe
Who were the seven heroes who went to Thebes?
Adrastus, Amphiaraus, Capaneus, Hippomedon, Polynices, Tydeus and Parthnopeus
Where did Oedipus wander to after he blinded himself?
The Grove of the Furies at Colonus
What happened to Oedipus in the grove of Colonus
He became a spirit and protected Athens from her enemies (whatever bones held the bones of Oedipus could not be captured)
What was the only way the Thebans could win the war?
If Creon’s son Menoeceus was sacrificed to Ares (he committed suicide to help his people)
Who was the only hero to escape and how did he escape?
Adrastus escaped in a chariot drawn by the magical horse Arion
What was Antigone determined to do?
Bury Polynices
What did Creon’s do to Antigone
He condemned her to death and ordered that she should be buried alive. She ended up killing herself
What happened after Antigone killed her self?
Haemon (Creon’s son whom she was supposed to marry) killed himself in grief and Creon’s wife also killed her self
Who were the Epigoni?
The sons of the original seven
