The complex timeline of Sophocles' most famous tragic trilogy
In short: Sophocles' Oedipus trilogy is a cornerstone of Greek drama, yet the plays were not written in the order they are traditionally read. This overview explores the creation and legacy of the House of Oedipus, clarifying the sequence of these foundational works.
Sophocles, who lived from approximately 496 to 406 BCE, crafted a trilogy centered on the fallen king Oedipus. While Oedipus the King, also known as Oedipus Tyrannos, is his most renowned work, the series also includes Antigone and Oedipus at Colonus. The term 'Tyrannos' specifically denotes that Oedipus did not inherit his throne but seized it.
The publication history is non-linear: Antigone was written in 441 BCE, while Oedipus at Colonus, which depicts the king's final years in exile, was presented posthumously by Sophocles' son Iophon in 401 BCE. This final chapter follows Oedipus twenty years after his expulsion from Thebes, portraying him as a blind, ragged wanderer accompanied by his daughter, Antigone.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Tragedy of the House of Oedipus
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