As an expected source of the truth and of the future, and as an unexpected source for the fulfillment of one's fate, the Delphic Oracle is important to Theban King Oedipus. That's why Oedipus goes to Delphi to check out a recent rumor. It's a case of an upsetting rumor that Oedipus isn't the biological son of the only people he believes to be his parents: King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth.
But under questioning, the Oracle describes Oedipus' fate as the killer of his own father and the wedder and bedder of his own mother. The Horror of such an unexpected response causes all questions as to his true parents to disappear. That same horror causes Oedipus to run away from home and try to start life afresh far away from Corinth.
But in the process, everything that Oedipus does just draws him closer to his nightmarish fate. And so ultimately, the Delphic Oracle ends up as the source of Oedipus' free will choices and actions that hand him over to his miserable destiny.
Oedipus learns from the oracle that he will marry his mother.
Creon; the Delphic oracle
father
That he will kill his father and marry his mother are the horrible things that the oracle claims that Oedipus will do in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, it is the Delphic oracle that speaks to Oedipus of these horrible things. This oracle is located at Delphi and is considered the most famous and most respected oracle in ancient Greece. What the Delphic oracle says therefore tends to be taken seriously, and Oedipus does what any really frightened person does: He runs.
A way of ending the pestilence is what Oedipus hopes to gain by sending his wife's brother to pray to the Delphic oracle in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus knows of the pestilence that afflicts all Thebes. It does not affect the royal household. But Oedipus cares about his people. He therefore asks Creon, his brother-in-law and royal colleague, to seek the advice of the Pythia, the Delphic oracle.
Oedipus learns from the oracle that he will marry his mother.
Creon; the Delphic oracle
father
The Delphic oracle is the only oracle in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Delphic oracle is consulted by Theban King Oedipus when he has questions about his true parentage. It also is to be consulted by King Laius, who is killed before doing so.
The Delphic oracle's statement comes true. (Apex)
That he will kill his father and marry his mother are the horrible things that the oracle claims that Oedipus will do in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, it is the Delphic oracle that speaks to Oedipus of these horrible things. This oracle is located at Delphi and is considered the most famous and most respected oracle in ancient Greece. What the Delphic oracle says therefore tends to be taken seriously, and Oedipus does what any really frightened person does: He runs.
It is with fear, fight and flight that Oedipus responds to the Delphic oracle's words in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Delphic oracle announces that Oedipus will kill his father and marry his mother. But Oedipus does not feel murderously towards his presumed father or incestuously towards his presumed mother. He jumps to the conclusion that a fight against an unenviable fate best is carried out by flight to presumably unfamiliar Thebes.
A way of ending the pestilence is what Oedipus hopes to gain by sending his wife's brother to pray to the Delphic oracle in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus knows of the pestilence that afflicts all Thebes. It does not affect the royal household. But Oedipus cares about his people. He therefore asks Creon, his brother-in-law and royal colleague, to seek the advice of the Pythia, the Delphic oracle.
He hears this news from the Delphic oracle.
The Delphic oracle.
Delphi is where Oedipus consults the oracle in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. -- 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus spends his childhood and early adulthood in Corinth. Consulting an oracle is something that members of royal families do in ancient Greece. There are a number of oracles to choose from, and the highly regarded Delphic Oracle is the one closest to Oedipus' home.
It is the Delphic oracle that Oedipus sends Creon to consult prior to the beginning of the action of "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Delphic oracle carries the name of the Pythia. As the oracle of Apollo the sun god at Delphi, she is the most famous and respected oracle in ancient Greece. Oedipus therefore sends Creon, his brother-in-law and royal colleague, to find out how to end the pestilence before it ends all life in Thebes.