Jocasta: Difference between revisions

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Jocasta, in the book Oedipus the King, was the wife of Laius (king of Thebes) and mother of Oedipus (king of Thebes). An oracle told Jocasta that her son would kill Laius. Laius had the child's ankles pinned and abandoned him on Mount Cithaeron. The infant was rescued by a shepherd and given the name Oedipus. He shepherd gave Oedipus to a messenger. He gave the Oedipus to Polybus, king of Corinth. When the oracle at Delphi proclaimed that he would kill his father and marry his mother, Oedipus left Corinth. At a road crossing, Oedipus quarreled with and killed his father Laius. Jocasta did not recognize Oedipus when he reappeared in Thebes. Oedipus saved the city from the sphinx and was married to Jocasta. Jocasta bore him four children. They had two sons named Eteocles and Polynices, and two daughters named Antigone and Ismene. When she learned that Oedipus was her son, Jocasta committed suicide by hanging herself. (http://www.in2greece.com/english/historymyth/mythology/names/jocasta.htm)