What does Oedipus learn about Kithairon in the play?
We learn in the play, as Oedipus himself learns, that Oedipus' father, King Laius, and mother, Queen Jocasta, were unable to have children. King... Kithairon, or Cithaeron, is not a who but a what. Kithairon is the western area of a mountain range in Greece. It serves as the border between Athens and Thebes.
Who is Kithairon in Greek mythology?
Kithairon is a mountain demi-god with a smaller presence in Greek mythology. Kithairon is one of the Ourea, a set of primordial deities who govern various mountains throughout Greece. Kithairon is the personification of Mount Kithairon.
What does Kithairon tell Autonoe?
Nonnus, Dionysiaca 5. 354 ff (trans. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : " ‘Kithairon (Cithaeron), tell Autonoe what you know; with stony tears describe to Aristaios (Aristaeus) my father, my end and the maddening hounds unmerciful.’"
Who is Cithaeron in Oedipus?
Kithairon, or Cithaeron, is not a who but a what. Kithairon is the western area of a mountain range in Greece. It serves as the border between Athens and Thebes. And it is on the side of that mountain that Oedipus, as a baby, was abandoned to die.
Where is Mount Kithairon?
central GreeceCithaeron or Kithairon (Κιθαιρών, -ῶνος) is a mountain and mountain range about sixteen kilometres (ten miles) long, in central Greece. The range is the physical boundary between Boeotia in the north and Attica in the south.
What does Mount Cithaeron symbolize for Oedipus?
-The number three, the Crossroads and Mount Cithaeron are all important symbols throughout Oedipus. -Both the Three Crossroads and Mount Cithaeron mark some sort of beginning. -Symbolizes Oedipus' journey from the beginning of his life to the end.
What is the significance of Mount Cithaeron?
Cithaeron is famous in Greek mythology. There Actaeon was changed into a stag, Pentheus was torn into pieces by the Bacchantes, and the infant Oedipus was left to die. It was the scene of the mystic rites of Dionysus and of the festival of the Daedala in honour of Hera.
Who is Oedipus's biological father?
LaiusPucci said that the Greek Oedipus has four fathers: Laius, his biological father; Polybus, his adoptive father; the king as a father to his citizens; and Apollo, as the divine Father.
What does Jocasta symbolize?
At once Oedipus' mother and his wife, Jocasta represents the most immediate victim of Oedipus' fate, after the tragic hero himself. In contrast to Oedipus, Jocasta distrusts the oracles and believes that whatever happens will happen by unforeseeable chance.
What is the most important symbol in Oedipus Rex?
Three prominent symbols in Sophocles's Oedipus the King are eyes, the crossroads, and Oedipus's ankles. The eyes represent the theme of sight vs. blindness, or knowledge vs. ignorance.
Who was Cithaeron in Greek mythology?
KITHAIRON (Cithaeron) was a mountain-god of Boiotia in central Greece. His mountain spanned the borders of Boiotia, Megaris and Attika. He may have been identified with Nysos, foster-father of the god Dionysos.
How do you pronounce Cithaeron?
0:391:00How To Say Cithaeron - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSi se van si se van.MoreSi se van si se van.
How is Mount Cithaeron an appropriate location for Oedipus's desired exile?
Why is Mount Cithaeron an appropriate location for Oedipus's desired exile? Oedipus was supposed to die at Mt Cithaeron. Instead, the shepherds spared his life. Oedipus wants to return to this cursed spot where he was supposed to die.
Who is Laius son?
Oedipus was the son of Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes. After having been married some time without children, his parents consulted the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi about their childlessness.
Who is Laius wife?
JocastaAccording to one version of the story, Laius, king of Thebes, was warned by an oracle that his son would slay him. Accordingly, when his wife, Jocasta (Iocaste; in Homer, Epicaste), bore a son, he had the baby exposed (a form of infanticide) on Cithaeron.
What did Laius and Jocasta do to their baby?
The Oracle of Delphi tells King Laius of Thebes that he'll have a child who's destined to kill him and sleep with Laius's wife, Jocasta, the boy's own mother. When a baby comes along, the king pierces his ankles and leaves him on a mountainside to die.
The Origins of Kithairon
Kithairon was born shortly after Chaos, the primal emptiness of the universe. Out of Chaos came the first beings to exist: The primordial deities. One of the earliest gods to come into existence is Gaia. Gaia is the personification of the Earth and the mother of all things.
The Singing Competition
Here is one of the more oddball stories involving Kithairon. According to some early poets, Kithairon participated in a singing competition against Helikon. Helikon is another Ourea who ruled over the nearby Helikon mountain.
Kithairon and Zeus
Another interesting story that features Kithairon involves the king of the gods himself. Like the previous tale, this one occurs many generations after the birth of the Ourea. Their demi-god status is long secure, and the Twelve Olympians rule over the known world.
Kithairon and Dionysus
The story of Dionysus is well-understood. However, the details surrounding his birth are unclear. Most accounts say that Zeus entrusted the Ourea Nysos to raise his divine son on Earth. However, some poets confuse Nysos with Kithairon. For that reason, the two deities are used interchangeably throughout the story of Dionysus.
Other Stories
Mount Kithairon appears a few other times in Greek mythology. The mountain god remains silent and unseen, but he likely watched over the events as they occurred.
Where is Kithairon from?
Latin Spelling. KITHAIRON (Cithaeron) was a mountain-god of Boiotia in central Greece. His mountain spanned the borders of Boiotia, Megaris and Attika. He may have been identified with Nysos, foster-father of the god Dionysos.
What is Cithaeron's name?
CITHAERON (Kithairôn), a mythical king in Boeotia, from whom mount Cithaeron was believed to have derived its name. Once when Hera was angry with Zeus, Cithaeron advised the latter to take into his chariot a wooden statue and dress it up so as to make it resemble Plataea, the daughter of Asopus. Zeus followed his counsel, and as he was riding along with his pretended bride, Hera, overcome by her jealousy, ran up to him, tore the covering from the suspected bride, and on discovering that it was a statue, became reconciled to Zeus. (Paus. ix. 1. § 2, 3. § 1.)
Who is the king of Athens in Oedipus?
Theseus. The king of Athens in Oedipus at Colonus. A renowned and powerful warrior, Theseus takes pity on Oedipus and defends him against Creon. Theseus is the only one who knows the spot at which Oedipus descended to the underworld—a secret he promises Oedipus he will hold forever.
Who is Oedipus' daughter?
Oedipus’s daughter Ismene appears at the end of Oedipus the King and to a limited extent in Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone. Ismene’s minor part underscores her sister’s grandeur and courage. Ismene fears helping Antigone bury Polynices but offers to die beside Antigone when Creon sentences her to die. Antigone , however, refuses to allow her sister to be martyred for something she did not have the courage to stand up for.
What does Tiresias tell Oedipus?
In Oedipus the King, Tiresias tells Oedipus that he is the murderer he hunts, and Oedipus does not believe him. In Antigone, Tiresias tells Creon that Creon himself is bringing disaster upon Thebes, and Creon does not believe him. Yet, both Oedipus and Creon claim to trust Tiresias deeply.
What is Polynices's point of view on Oedipus?
Polynices tries to point out the similarity between his own situation and that of Oedipus, but his words seem opportunistic rather than filial, a fact that Oedipus points out.
Why was Oedipus the king of Thebes?
Oedipus becomes king of Thebes before the action of Oedipus the King begins. He is renowned for his intelligence and his ability to solve riddles—he saved the city of Thebes and was made its king by solving the riddle of the Sphinx, the supernatural being that had held the city captive.
Who is Antigone in Oedipus?
Child of Oedipus and Jocasta, and therefore both Oedipus’s daughter and his sister. Antigone appears briefly at the end of Oedipus the King, when she says goodbye to her father as Creon prepares to banish Oedipus. She appears at greater length in Oedipus at Colonus, leading and caring for her old, blind father in his exile. But Antigone comes into her own in Antigone. As that play’s protagonist, she demonstrates a courage and clarity of sight unparalleled by any other character in the three Theban plays. Whereas other characters—Oedipus, Creon, Polynices—are reluctant to acknowledge the consequences of their actions, Antigone is unabashed in her conviction that she has done right.
Who is Oedipus' wife?
Jocasta. Oedipus’s wife and mother, and Creon’s sister. Jocasta appears only in the final scenes of Oedipus the King. In her first words, she attempts to make peace between Oedipus and Creon, pleading with Oedipus not to banish Creon.
What is Cithaeron famous for?
Cithaeron is famous in Greek mythology . There Actaeon was changed into a stag, Pentheus was torn into pieces by the Bacchantes, and the infant Oedipus was left to die. It was the scene of the mystic rites of Dionysus and of the festival of the Daedala in honour of Hera.
How tall is Mount Cithaeron?
The range has a maximum elevation of 4,623 feet (1,409 m). In ancient times, the road from Athens to Thebes crossed the range via the pass of Dryoscephalae (modern Dhríos Kefáli). On the north slope of Mount Cithaeron is Plataea, site of one of the major battles of the Greco-Persian Wars (479 bce ). Cithaeron is famous in Greek mythology.
Who is Oedipus' ally?
Theseus King of Athens. He acts as Oedipus' ally by protecting him in Colonus and witnesses his death. Creon King of Thebes, brother-in-law of Oedipus. Responsible for Oedipus' exile, Creon is now interested in returning the former king to Thebes to avoid a curse.
Who is Creon in Thebes?
Creon The second-in-command in Thebes, brother-in-law of Oedipus. He is Oedipus' trusted advisor, selected to go to the oracle at Delphi to seek the Apollo's advice in saving the city from plague. Tiresias A blind prophet who has guided the kings of Thebes with his advice and counsel. Jocasta Queen of Thebes, wife of Oedipus.
What do Eurydice's auguries show?
His auguries show that the gods are angered by Creon's decision to leave Polynices unburied. Eurydice Queen of Thebes, wife of Creon. On hearing of the death of her son, she kills herself. A Messenger A man who tells of the deaths of Antigone, Haemon, and Eurydice. Chorus The elders of Thebes and their Leader.
How did Oedipus save Thebes?
Oedipus King of Thebes. As a young man, he saved the city of Thebes by solving the riddle of the Sphinx and destroying the monster. He now sets about finding the murderer of the former king Laius to save Thebes from plague.
What is the messenger from Corinth?
A Messenger from Corinth A man bringing news of the royal family to Oedipus. A Shepherd A herder from the nearby mountains, who once served in the house of Laius. A Messenger A man who comes from the palace to announce the death of the queen and the blinding of Oedipus. Antigone and Ismene Oedipus' young daughters.
Who is Polynices son of?
Polynices Son of Oedipus, brother of Antigone and Ismene. Driven out of Thebes after a power struggle with his brother Eteocles and Creon, he is an exile like his father, and plans to take Thebes by force. A Messenger A man who tells the elders of the city of Oedipus' death. Chorus A group of elders of Colonus who confront Oedipus ...
Who is the chorus in Theban?
Chorus A group of Theban elders, and their Leader, who comment on the events of the drama and react to its tragic progression. Oedipus Former king of Thebes, now a blind beggar who wanders from place to place. Considered a pariah because of his sins, Oedipus suffers abuse and rejection everywhere he goes.
Who was Oedipus born to?
In the best known version of the myth, Oedipus was born to King Laius and Queen Jocasta of Thebes. Laius wished to thwart the prophecy, so he sent a shepherd-servant to leave Oedipus to die on a mountainside. However, the shepherd took pity on the baby and passed him to another shepherd who gave Oedipus to King Polybus and Queen Merope ...
What did Oedipus tell his parents?
After many years, Oedipus was told by a drunk that he was a "bastard", meaning at that time that he was not their biological son. Oedipus confronted his parents (the king and queen of Corinth) with the news, but they denied this. Oedipus went to the same oracle in Delphi that his birth parents had consulted.
How many children did Oedipus have?
Oedipus and Jocasta had four children: sons Eteocles and Polynices (see Seven Against Thebes) and daughters Antigone and Ismene . Many years later, a plague of infertility struck the city of Thebes, affecting crops, livestock and the people. Oedipus asserted that he would end the pestilence.
What is the story of Oedipus?
The story of Oedipus is the subject of Sophocles ' tragedy Oedipus Rex, which is followed in the narrative sequence by Oedipus at Colonus and then Antigone. Together, these plays make up Sophocles' three Theban plays.
What did Oedipus learn from the oracle at Delphi?
Oedipus learned from the oracle at Delphi of the prophecy that he would end up killing his father and marrying his mother but, unaware of his true parentage, believed he was fated to murder Polybus and marry Merope, so left for Thebes. On his way he met an older man and killed him in a quarrel.
Why does Laius leave Oedipus?
He pierces Oedipus' feet and leaves him out to die, but a shepherd finds him and carries him away. Years later, Oedipus, not knowing he was adopted, leaves home in fear of the same prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. Laius journeys out to seek a solution to the Sphinx's mysterious riddle.
Why was Oedipus relieved?
Oedipus was relieved for the prophecy could no longer be fulfilled if Polybus, whom he considered his birth father, was now dead. Still, he knew that his mother was still alive and refused to attend the funeral at Corinth. To ease the tension, the messenger then said that Oedipus was, in fact, adopted.
The Origins of Kithairon
The Singing Competition
Kithairon and Zeus
Kithairon and Dionysus
Other Stories
Kithairon Trivia
- Kithairon is a mountain god of Boeotia. Kithairon is one of possibly ten Ourea. This demi-godis also referred to as “Cithaeron.” Kithairon rules Mount Kithairon and its accompanying range. The mountain rises 1,409 meters tall, while the surrounding range stretches approximately 10 miles long. The central location of Mount Kithairon makes it the bac...
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