1. Sophocles’ Oedipus the King Ancient Greek drama Ancient Greek drama Oedipus is one of a trilogy Oedipus is one of a trilogy Antigone andOedipus at Colonus are the other two Easily one of the most famous of the Greek plays Easily one of the most famous of the Greek plays

2. Greek Drama Performed in large, open-air theaters Performed in large, open-air theaters Theater of Epidauros Theater of Epidauros

3. Greek Drama Theater of Epidauros Theater of Epidauros

4. Greek Drama Players used masks to depict emotions

5. Greek Drama A timeline… http://www.arlymasks.com/timeline.htm

6. Oedipus confronts the Sphinx Detail from a vase painting

7. Oedipus confronts the Sphinx Another vase detail. How is the emphasis of this depiction different from the previous vase?

8. Oedipus confronts the Sphinx

9. The Sphinx A statue of the Sphinx, called the Naxian Sphinx (made from Naxian marble) A statue of the Sphinx, called the Naxian Sphinx (made from Naxian marble) Created 570-560 B.C. Created 570-560 B.C. Discovered at Delphi in 1861 Discovered at Delphi in 1861

10. Oedipus the King The kingdom of Thebes is suffering from a terrible plague. “For the city…can no longer lift her head from beneath the angry waves of death.” “For the city…can no longer lift her head from beneath the angry waves of death.”

11. Oedipus the King The kingdom of Thebes is suffering from a terrible plague. “A blight has fallen on the fruitful blossoms of the land, the herds among the pastures, the barren pangs of women. “A blight has fallen on the fruitful blossoms of the land, the herds among the pastures, the barren pangs of women.

12. Oedipus the King The kingdom of Thebes is suffering from a terrible plague. And the flaming god, the malign plague, has swooped upon us, and ravages the town: he lays waste to the house of Cadmus, but enriches Hades with groans and tears.” “And the flaming god, the malign plague, has swooped upon us, and ravages the town: he lays waste to the house of Cadmus, but enriches Hades with groans and tears.”

13. Oedipus the King Oedipus sends Creon to visit the oracle at Delphi--the temple of Apollo—to discover how Thebes can be saved.

14. The Temple of Apollo

16. Oedipus the King The oracle at Delphi tells Creon that the murderers of Laius, the previous king of Thebes, must be brought to justice or the plague will continue. The oracle at Delphi tells Creon that the murderers of Laius, the previous king of Thebes, must be brought to justice or the plague will continue. “What is sought for can be caught; only that which is not watched escapes.” “What is sought for can be caught; only that which is not watched escapes.”

17. Oedipus the King Oedipus vows to seek the murderers out himself. Oedipus vows to seek the murderers out himself. “Avenging Laius, therefore, I serve myself.” But is he asking for trouble? But is he asking for trouble? “For with the god's help our good fortune--or our ruin-- will be made certain.”