The Rest Is History 603. Greek Myths: The Riddle of the Sphinx (Part 2)
Dive into the complex tale of Oedipus, the notorious king of Thebes, as his tragic fate unfolds. Discover the origins of this myth through the lens of Sophocles and the societal context of 5th-century Athens. Engage with the harrowing details of Oedipus' quest to evade prophecy and the horror of his ultimate discoveries. Explore the play's influence on Freud's theories and its reflection on human desire. Delve into the interplay of divine and human law, and the enduring emotional power of this timeless tragedy.
01:05:34
00:00 / 00:00
Sophocles Made Oedipus Athenian Tragedy
- Sophocles' Oedipus reshapes Homer's brief account into a tightly plotted tragedy familiar to modern audiences.
- The play was written in 5th-century Athens and reflects Athenian theatrical and political contexts.
00:00 / 00:00
Oedipus Is A Foundling With Injured Feet
- Sophocles shows Oedipus as a foundling from Corinth who grows up as Polybus and Merope's son.
- The shepherd rescued the baby with injured ankles and named him Oedipus, 'swollen foot.'
00:00 / 00:00
The Sphinx Riddle Launches Oedipus' Rise
- The Sphinx's riddle and Oedipus's answer are assumed common knowledge and drive his elevation in Thebes.
- Solving the riddle wins him the kingship and marriage to Jocasta, setting tragic fate in motion.
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Intro
00:00 • 3min
Homer's Early Account of Oedipus
02:34 • 2min
Sophocles and the Classic Oedipus Story
04:20 • 2min
How Oedipus' Childhood Leads to Fate
06:02 • 4min
The Oracle, Flight, and the Fatal Encounter
10:18 • 2min
The Sphinx Riddle and Oedipus' Rise
12:34 • 3min
Oedipus' Reign and Theban Plague
16:03 • 1min
Oedipus as Detective: Tracking Laos' Murderer
17:30 • 4min
Clues, Tension, and the Messenger's Revelations
21:05 • 2min
Recognition and Catastrophe: Oedipus' Unraveling
22:58 • 4min
Aristotle's Praise and the Play's Structure
26:44 • 3min
Ad break
29:44 • 2min
Freud's Oedipus Complex Interpretation
31:44 • 3min
Is Oedipus Universal or Historical?
34:20 • 2min
Oedipus within Theban Epic Traditions
36:47 • 3min
Cadmus, Thebes' Origins, and Dynastic Curse
40:13 • 2min
Consequences: Oedipus' Curse on His Sons
42:02 • 3min
Athenian Drama Mining Theban Myths
45:16 • 3min
Tragedy as Civic Ritual and Anti-Theban Sentiment
48:03 • 47sec
Sophocles' Later Oedipus Play and Athenian Claims
48:50 • 1min
Emotional Power Beyond Propaganda
50:06 • 5min
Plague, Pericles, and Political Echoes
54:38 • 3min
Antigone and Conflicting Laws
57:32 • 2min
Antigone's Defiance and Tragic Outcomes
59:53 • 2min
Sophocles' Exploration of Divine vs. Human Law
01:02:10 • 2min
Audience Reactions and the Greeks' Contradictory Thinking
01:03:40 • 58sec
Outro
01:04:38 • 3min
#154
• Mentioned in 101 episodes
The Iliad
Homer
The Iliad is an epic poem attributed to Homer, set during the Trojan War. It begins in the ninth year of the war, where a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles sets off a chain of events.
The poem explores themes of heroism, honor, and fate as it describes the battles and interactions between Greek warriors like Achilles, Diomedes, and Odysseus, and Trojan warriors like Hector and Paris.
The story is interspersed with divine interventions from Greek gods and goddesses, influencing the outcome of the war.
The poem culminates with Achilles' reconciliation with Agamemnon and his subsequent rage against the Trojans, leading to the death of Hector and the eventual funeral rites for Patroclus and Hector.
#74
• Mentioned in 153 episodes
The Odyssey
Homer
The Odyssey, attributed to Homer, is an ancient Greek epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his ten-year journey home after the Trojan War. The poem explores Odysseus's encounters with various mythical creatures, divine interventions, and natural challenges.
Upon his return to Ithaca, he must confront the suitors who have been vying for his wife Penelope's hand in marriage.
With the help of his son Telemachus and the goddess Athena, Odysseus devises a plan to defeat the suitors and reclaim his throne.
The poem is a reflection on human nature, loyalty, and the consequences of one's actions, and it remains a crucial component of ancient Greek literature and Western cultural heritage.
#2336
• Mentioned in 14 episodes
Theogony
Hesiod
#1883
• Mentioned in 17 episodes
The Name of the Rose
Umberto Eco
The novel, set in 1327, follows Adso of Melk, a young Benedictine novice, and William of Baskerville, a Franciscan friar, as they investigate a series of murders at an abbey in northern Italy.
The story is framed by a complex narrative structure and involves debates on theology, science, and politics.
The abbey's labyrinthine library, which houses a forbidden book, is central to the mystery.
As the investigation unfolds, William and Adso uncover a conspiracy related to the library and a hidden manuscript that could undermine religious and societal order.
#7696
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
Herodotus
Herodotus
G. C. Macaulay
Herodotus's Histories is considered a foundational work of history, offering a detailed account of the Greco-Persian Wars.
It blends historical narrative with ethnographic observations, providing insights into the cultures and customs of various ancient societies.
Herodotus's approach, often described as 'inquiry,' involved gathering information from diverse sources and presenting multiple perspectives.
His work is celebrated for its vivid storytelling and enduring influence on historical writing.
The Histories remains a valuable source for understanding the ancient world and the development of historical methodology.
#3125
• Mentioned in 11 episodes
Antigone
Sophocles
Written in the 5th century BCE, 'Antigone' by Sophocles is a tragedy set in the ancient Greek city of Thebes.
The play revolves around Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta, who defies King Creon's law by burying her brother Polyneices, who was declared a traitor.
This act of civil disobedience sparks a profound exploration of themes such as the tension between personal morality and state law, the nature of justice, the role of fate, and the dangers of excessive pride.
The play highlights Antigone's unwavering commitment to her familial duty and the gods, contrasting with Creon's rigid adherence to the law.
The tragic consequences of their inflexible moral standpoints lead to a devastating outcome, questioning the absolute authority of human law versus divine law.
#264
• Mentioned in 68 episodes
Hamlet
William Shakespeare
The play revolves around Prince Hamlet's journey to avenge his father's murder, which was committed by his uncle Claudius.
Hamlet's father's ghost appears and reveals that he was poisoned by Claudius, who then married Hamlet's mother, Gertrude.
Hamlet feigns madness while he investigates and plots his revenge.
The play explores themes of betrayal, mortality, and the human condition, culminating in a tragic finale where nearly all main characters die, including Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, and several others.
#1058
• Mentioned in 26 episodes
The interpretation of dreams
Sigmund Freud
In this seminal work, Freud introduces his theory of the unconscious with respect to dream interpretation and discusses what would later become the theory of the Oedipus complex.
He argues that dreams are forms of 'wish fulfillment' and are influenced by unconscious forces and censorship.
The book differentiates between the manifest content and latent content of dreams and explores the mechanisms of dream formation, including displacement and the 'dream-work'.
Freud uses his own dreams and those of his patients to illustrate his theories, providing a deeply personal and insightful look into the human psyche.
#1264
• Mentioned in 23 episodes
The Hound Of The Baskervilles
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The novel revolves around the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville and the legend of a giant hound said to haunt the Baskerville family.
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson uncover the truth behind the deaths, revealing that the hound is not supernatural but a real dog used by Stapleton (actually Rodger Baskerville) to eliminate the heirs to the Baskerville fortune.
The story unfolds on the eerie Dartmoor moorlands, where Holmes and Watson confront the hound and Stapleton, ultimately solving the mystery and saving Sir Henry Baskerville's life.
What is the story behind the writing of Oedipus, the notorious king of Thebes who murdered his father and unwittingly married his mother? Was it based on a real historical event? What are Oedipus’ cursed mythic origins in Thebes? Who was Sophocles, the legendary Greek playwright? Why was the play a product of 5th century Athens; its rivalries with other greek city states such as Thebes, a raging plague, and the tyrant Pericles? What horrifying events unfold in Oedipus? It is the greatest tragedy of all time? And, how did it later come to influence Sigmund Freud’s unnerving interpretation of the deepest desires of the subconscious….?
Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss one of the most famous Greek myths of all time: Oedipus; unravelling this disturbing tragedy, delving into its meaning today, and exploring the historical context behind it all.
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Producer: Theo Young-Smith
Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett + Aaliyah Akude
Video Producer: Jack Meek
Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor
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