LP0057 - Theseus & Oedipus - Endings & beginnings, from Diodorus Siculus' Library of History

Legendary Passages #0057 - Theseus & Oedipus - Endings & beginnings, from Diodorus Siculus' Library of History. For the next six episodes we shall explore the stories of Thebes, focusing on King Laius, his son Oedipus, and the riddle of the Sphinx. But first we shall review the stories of King Theseus, his son Hippolytus, and the abductions of Helen and Persephone. King Laius married Jocasta and ruled the kingdom of Thebes. An oracle foretold that his son would bring misfortune on his house, so Laius ordered him to be abandoned. But little Oedipus was raised instead in Corinth, and after visiting the oracle himself, slew his own father unknowingly. Meanwhile, the monstrous Sphinx ravaged the countryside of Thebes, killing all who could not answer her riddle. Queen Jocasta and the Kingdom itself were awarded to Oedipus for solving the riddle and ending her terror. Thus, Oedipus married his mother Jocasta, and together they had twin sons Eteocles and Polyneices, and daughters Ismene and Antigone. Next time, we hear an anthology of stories, including that of Laius & Chrysippus. http://www.theoi.com/Text/DiodorusSiculus4D.html#6 Theseus & Oedipus, a Legendary Passage, from Diodorus Siculus' Library of History, translated by C. H. Oldfather. [4.61.8] - [4.64.4] KINGSHIP OF THESEUS After Aegeus had died, Theseus, succeeding to the kingship, ruled over the masses in accordance with the laws and performed many deeds which contributed to the aggrandizement of his native land. The most notable thing which he accomplished was the incorporation of the demes, which were small in size but many in number, into the city of Athens; since from that time on the Athenians were filled with pride by reason of the importance of their state and aspired to the leadership of the Greeks. But for our part, now that we have set forth these facts at sufficient length, we shall record what remains to be said about Theseus. PHAEDRA AND HIPPOLYTUS Deucalion, the eldest of the sons of Minos, while he was ruler of Crete, formed an alliance with the Athenians and united his own sister Phaedra in marriage to Theseus. After the marriage Theseus sent his son Hippolytus, who had been born to him by the Amazon, to Troezen to be reared among the brothers of Aethra, and by Phaedra he begat Acamas and Demophon. A short time after this Hippolytus returned to Athens for the celebration of the mysteries, and Phaedra, becoming enamoured of him because of his beauty, at that time, after he had returned to Troezen, erected a temple of Aphroditê beside the acropolis at the place whence one can look across and see Troezen, but at a later time, when she was stopping together with Theseus at the home of Pittheus, she asked Hippolytus to lie with her. Upon his refusal to do so Phaedra, they say, was vexed, and on her return to Athens she told Theseus that Hippolytus had proposed lying with her. And since Theseus had his doubts about the accusation, he sent for Hippolytus in order to put him to the test, whereupon Phaedra, fearing the result of the examination, hanged herself; as for Hippolytus, who was driving a chariot when he heard of the accusation, he was so distraught in spirit that the horses got out of control and ran away with him, and in the event the chariot was smashed to bits and the youth, becoming entangled in the leather thongs, was dragged along till he died. Hippolytus, then, since he had ended his life because of his chastity, received at the hands of the Troezenians honours equal to those offered to the gods, but Theseus, when after these happenings he was overpowered by a rival faction and banished from his native land, met his death on foreign soil. The Athenians, however, repenting of what they had done, brought back his bones and accorded him honours equal to those offered to the gods, and they set aside in Athens a sacred precinct which enjoyed the right of sanctuary and was called after him the Theseum. THESEUS AND HELEN Since we have duly