s told that his first child
would be his death. So as soon as it was born he had its ancles pierced,
and put it out in a wood to die; but it was found by a shepherd, and
brought to Corinth, where the queen named it OEdipus, or Swollen Feet,
and bred it up as her own child. Many years later OEdipus set out for
the Delphic oracle, to ask who he was; but all the answer he received was
that he must shun his native land, for he would be the slayer of his own
father. He therefore resolved not to return to Corinth, but on his
journey he met in a narrow pass with a chariot going to Delphi. A
quarrel arose, and in the fight that followed he slew the man to whom the
chariot belonged, little knowing that it was Laius, his own father.

He then went on through Boeotia. On the top of a hill near Thebes sat a
monster called the Sphinx, with a women's head, a lion's body, and an
eagle's wings. She had been taught riddles by the Muses, and whoever
failed to answer them she devoured upon the spot. Whoever could answer
her was to marry the king's sister, and share the kingdom. OEdipus went
bravely up to her, and heard her question, "What is the animal that is at
first four-legged, then two-legged, then three-legged?" "Man," cried
OEdipus. "He creeps as a babe on all-fours, walks upright in his prime,
and uses a staff in his old age." Thereupon the Sphinx turned to stone,
and OEdipus married the princess, and reigned many years, till there was
a famine and pestilence, and the oracle was asked the cause. It answered
that the land must be purified from the blood of Laius. Only then did
OEdipus find out that it was Laius whom he had slain; and then, by the
marks on his ancles, it was proved that he was the babe who had been
exposed, so that he had fulfilled his fate, and killed his own father.
To save Thebes, he left the country, with his eyes put out by way of
expiation, and wandered about, only attended by his faithful daughter
Antigone, till he came to Athens, where, like Orestes, he was sheltered,
and allowed to expiate his crime. After his death, Antigone came back to
Thebes, where her two brothers Eteocles and Polynices had agreed to reign
each a year by turns; but when Eteocles' year was over he would not give
up to his brother, and Polynices, in a rage, collected friends, among
whom were six great chiefs, and attacked Thebes. In the battle called
"The Seven Chiefs against Thebes," all were slain, and Eteocles and
Polynic