Chapter 18: Oedipus And The Myths Of Thebes

Question 1

What story was written by Homer?

Answer 1

Thebais (the story of Thebes

Question 2

How did Cadmus find Thebes?

Answer 2

He was told to follow a cow with special markings and wherever it stopped would be where he created the city

Question 3

Who did Cadmus want to sacrifice the bull to?

Answer 3

Zeus

Question 4

What happened when Cadmus’ companions went to a sacred spring of Ares?

Answer 4

They were killed by a giant serpent

Question 5

What happened when Cadmus knocked out and sowed the teeth of the snake after he killed it

Answer 5

From the serpents teeth were formed the Sparti (only five of them remained after fighting amongst themselves

Question 6

How many years did Cadmus have to serve Ares?

Answer 6

Eight

Question 7

Who did Cadmus marry?

Answer 7

Harmonia, daughter of Ares and Aphrodite

Question 8

What did Aphrodite give Harmonia at her wedding?

Answer 8

A necklace made by Hephaestus and a robe that gave its owner wonderful dignity (but would jinx those who owned it in later generations)

Question 9

What did Zeus turn Cadmus and Harmonia into?

Answer 9

Serpents and they lived in the Elysian fields

Question 10

Who were the twins of Antiope?

Answer 10

Amphion and Zethus

Question 11

How did Amphion and Zethus found Thebes?

Answer 11

Amphion used his lyre to bring stones up from the ground which helped build the city walls of Thebes

Question 12

How many gates are in the walls of Thebes

Answer 12

Seven

Question 13

Who was Oedipus’ father?

Answer 13

King Laius

Question 14

Who were the adoptive parents of Oedipus?

Answer 14

Polybus and Merope

Question 15

What does Oedipus mean?

Answer 15

Swollen foot

Question 16

How did Oedipus save Thebes

Answer 16

He answered the riddle of the sphinx

Question 17

How did Oedipus kill his father?

Answer 17

He killed him after his father accidentally ran him off the road with a chariot

Question 18

Who were the children of Oedipus and Jocasata (his wife and mother)

Answer 18

Polynices, Eteocles, Antigone and Ismene

Question 19

What happened when Oedipus realised he had married his mother?

Answer 19

Jocasta hung herself and Oedipus blinded himself with pins from her robe

Question 20

Who were the seven heroes who went to Thebes?

Answer 20

Adrastus, Amphiaraus, Capaneus, Hippomedon, Polynices, Tydeus and Parthnopeus

Question 21

Where did Oedipus wander to after he blinded himself?

Answer 21

The Grove of the Furies at Colonus

Question 22

What happened to Oedipus in the grove of Colonus

Answer 22

He became a spirit and protected Athens from her enemies (whatever bones held the bones of Oedipus could not be captured)

Question 23

What was the only way the Thebans could win the war?

Answer 23

If Creon’s son Menoeceus was sacrificed to Ares (he committed suicide to help his people)

Question 24

Who was the only hero to escape and how did he escape?

Answer 24

Adrastus escaped in a chariot drawn by the magical horse Arion

Question 25

What was Antigone determined to do?

Answer 25

Bury Polynices

Question 26

What did Creon’s do to Antigone

Answer 26

He condemned her to death and ordered that she should be buried alive. She ended up killing herself

Question 27

What happened after Antigone killed her self?

Answer 27

Haemon (Creon’s son whom she was supposed to marry) killed himself in grief and Creon’s wife also killed her self

Question 28

Who were the Epigoni?

Answer 28

The sons of the original seven