Oedipus married his mother, Jocasta, because he did not know she was his mother. He was abandoned as an infant and raised by a different family, unaware of his true parentage. This tragic situation is a central theme in Sophocles' famous play Oedipus Rex.
Here's a breakdown of the events:
- Oedipus's Birth and Abandonment: Oedipus was born to King Laius and Queen Jocasta of Thebes. An oracle foretold that Laius's son would kill him, so Laius ordered the infant Oedipus to be abandoned on a mountainside.
- Oedipus's Adoption: A shepherd found Oedipus and took him to King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth, who raised him as their own son.
- The Oracle's Prophecy: As a young man, Oedipus heard a prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Believing his adoptive parents to be his true parents, he left Corinth to avoid fulfilling the prophecy.
- The Road to Thebes: On his way to Thebes, Oedipus encountered Laius and, in a fit of rage, killed him without realizing he was his biological father.
- Solving the Riddle of the Sphinx: Upon arriving in Thebes, Oedipus solved the riddle of the Sphinx, a creature that terrorized the city. As a reward, he was crowned king and married Jocasta, unaware that she was his mother.
- The Truth Revealed: Years later, Oedipus discovered the truth about his parentage and realized he had fulfilled the prophecy. Overwhelmed by guilt and horror, he blinded himself and exiled himself from Thebes.
The tragedy of Oedipus lies in his unwitting actions and the consequences of fate. He was a victim of circumstance, destined by the gods to fulfill a prophecy he could not escape. His story is a timeless reminder of the power of fate and the importance of understanding one's own past.
