Geographic Significance Oedipus RexEric Helmold

Impact of Geography• Geographic circumstances shape play events• Facilitate plot progression• Setting• Approximate date 430 B.C.• Ancient Greece

Geographic Background

Troy

Birth of Oedipus• Son born to Laïos and

Iokastê at Thebes• Laïos seeks future of his

son• Oedipus’ prophesy is

given

Thebes

Abandonment • Laïos gives son to

shepherd• Left to die at Mount

Cithaeron• Significance of

Mountains to Greeks

Thebes

Mount Cithaeron

Prince of Corinth• Shepherd gives child

to Corinthian shepherd• Adopted by Polybos

and Meropê

Thebes

Mount Cithaeron

Corinth

Journey to Delphi• Oedipus questions

ancestry, Oracle at Delphi• “Yet the suspicion

remained aching in my mind” (1108)• Fumes of the Earth

Thebes

Mount Cithaeron

Corinth

Delphi

Return to Thebes• Hears prophesy,

decides to not return• Travels to Thebes,

crossroads incident• “Phokis […] where

the Theban Way divides […] toward Delphi and Daulia”• Backcountry

Thebes

Mount Cithaeron

Corinth

Delphi Daulia

Conclusion• Oedipus leaves Thebes, wanders to Athens• By Google Earth• Total Distance: 153 mi

• Geography allows for event feasibility• Sophocles uses geography to move plot

Thebes

Corinth

Delphi Daulia

Athens

Work Cited