Jocasta, the queen of Thebes, along with her husband King Laius, pierced their infant son's ankles shortly after his birth. This brutal act was carried out as part of a desperate attempt to prevent a prophecy from coming true.
The Prophecy and the Action
Upon learning that their newborn son was destined to kill his father, Laius, and marry his mother, Jocasta, the royal couple took extreme measures to avert this tragic fate. After Jocasta gave birth to a son, they made the agonizing decision to abandon him.
- Piercing the Ankles: To ensure the infant could not crawl away or survive on his own, Jocasta and Laius pierced his ankles. This act served as a means to hobble the child, making him immobile.
- Abandonment: Following this, they instructed a servant to leave the baby on Mount Cithaeron to die. The servant, however, took pity on the infant and instead gave him to a shepherd from Corinth, who then delivered him to King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth.
This severe injury to his feet would later become a defining characteristic and the origin of his well-known name. The child, who grew up to be the famous tragic hero, was named Oedipus, which means "swollen foot" in Greek, directly referencing the permanent damage inflicted upon his feet as an infant.
Significance in the Oedipus Myth
The piercing of Oedipus's feet is a foundational element of his origin story and a crucial detail in understanding his destiny. It underscores the futile efforts of humans to escape prophecies and highlights the tragic irony that their very attempts to prevent fate often lead directly to its fulfillment.
| Character | Action Towards Oedipus's Feet | Purpose of Action | Outcome for Oedipus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jocasta | Pierced his ankles | To prevent crawling, facilitate abandonment to avoid prophecy | Given the name Oedipus ("swollen foot") due to the injury |
| Laius | Pierced his ankles | To prevent crawling, facilitate abandonment to avoid prophecy | Given the name Oedipus ("swollen foot") due to the injury |
The myth of Oedipus continues to be a powerful narrative in literature and psychology, exploring themes of fate, free will, identity, and the consequences of human actions.
For further information on the intricate myth of Oedipus, including his origins and later life, you can refer to reputable sources such as the World History Encyclopedia.
