Unlike some leaders in ancient Greek plays, likein , for
example,doesn't make a public "show" of his power or demand obeisance simply to
demonstrate his authority over the Theban people.
Oedipus came to be King of
Thebes when he solved the riddle of the Sphinx and released Thebes from her tyranny. (In ancient
Greece, the Sphinx had the body of a winged lioness and the head of a woman. The Egyptian Sphinx
had, and has, the body of a lion and the head of a man.) In addition to being made King, Oedipus
was also given the hand of the former Queen, , in marriage. Oedipus knows that he's King only
through a twist of fate and as the result of a remarkable series of events.
From all appearances, Oedipus is a benevolent king, and the people of Thebes revere and
respect him. The Priest refers to Oedipus as "our peerless king." Oedipus repeatedly
refers to his people as "my children."
In the opening scene of the
play, Oedipus commiserates with the supplicants who have come...
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