Laius

Family: Theban · Role: king · First appears: Apollodorus, Library 3.5

🌐 Also appears in: Greek Tragedy — The Same Myth, Three Voices (as Laius)

While Laius was a child, Lycus, brother of Nycteus, usurped the government. Laius later married a daughter of Menoeceus, identified in different accounts as Jocasta or Epicasta, and taught Chrysippus, son of Pelops, to drive a chariot before conceiving a passion for him and carrying him off. After hearing that “the son that should be begotten would kill his father,” he nevertheless had intercourse with his wife; when Oedipus was born, Laius pierced the child’s ankles and gave him to a herdsman to expose.

At Phocis, Polyphontes, Laius’s herald, ordered Oedipus to make way on a narrow road. “Oedipus in a rage killed both Polyphontes and Laius, and arrived in Thebes .” Damasistratus, king of Plataea, buried Laius.

Relationship record

Life events

• Oedipus killed Laius and Polyphontes during a confrontation on a narrow road.(Apollodorus, Library 3.5 · 📍 Phocis)
  • With: Oedipus Polyphontes
  • “Oedipus in a rage killed both Polyphontes and Laius, and arrived in Thebes .”

Apollodorus, Library 3.5

• married with Jocasta (The text gives Jocasta as one reported identity of Laius's wife.) “And he married a daughter of Menoeceus; some say that she was Jocasta, and some that she was Epicasta.”
• married with Epicasta (The text gives Epicasta as an alternative reported identity of Laius's wife.) “And he married a daughter of Menoeceus; some say that she was Jocasta, and some that she was Epicasta.”
• pupil: Chrysippus (Laius taught Chrysippus to drive a chariot.) “and while he taught Chrysippus, the son of Pelops, to drive a chariot, he conceived a passion for the lad and carried him off.”
• child: Oedipus (Laius is Oedipus's biological father.) “the son that should be begotten would kill his father; nevertheless, flushed with wine, he had intercourse with his wife. And when the babe was born he pierced the child's ankles with brooches and gave it to a herdsman to expose.”
• employer: Polyphontes (Polyphontes was Laius's herald.) “when Polyphontes, the herald of Laius, ordered him to make way”
• guardian: Lycus “the government was usurped by Lycus, brother of Nycteus, so long as Laius was a child.”
• with Chrysippus (interaction) “and while he taught Chrysippus, the son of Pelops, to drive a chariot, he conceived a passion for the lad and carried him off.”
• servant: Polyphontes “when Polyphontes, the herald of Laius, ordered him to make way”
• enemies with Oedipus “Oedipus in a rage killed both Polyphontes and Laius”
• with Damasistratus (interaction) “Laius was buried by Damasistratus, king of Plataea”

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Extracted from the original text of Greek Mythology. Made with Rho MD.