1 Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus Introduced and Translated by ...

Merope (MAIR-rope-ee), adoptive mother of Oedipus.
Miasma (my-AS-mah), pollution, sickness, sacred disease; a person or a city suffering
this must go through purification rituals to get rid of it;
sometimes that person must leave the city.
Oedipus (EE-dih-puss), king of Thebes, married to Jocasta.
Olympia (Oh-LIMP-ee-ah), a shrine in Southern Greece with one temple dedicated to
Zeus, and another to Hera. The Olympic games took
place there.
Olympus (Oh-LIMP-us), a mountain in Northern Greece where the Gods were said to
live.
Polybus (POLLY-bus), Oedipus’ adoptive father, King of Corinth.
Polydorus (polly-DOR-us), father of Labdacus.
Sphinx (SFINKS), monster with the body of a lion and head of a woman, who killed the
people of Thebes if they did not answer her riddle: “What goes on
four legs in the morning, two at noon, and three at night” The
answer is “Man”: baby crawling; adult standing on two feet; old
man with cane.
Thebes (THEEBES), city ruled by Laius and Oedipus.
Thrace (THRAYCE), country in the north of Greece.
Tiresias (Tie-REE-see-us), a blind seer.
Zeus (ZOOSE), king of the gods.
74