In Greek mythology, Jocasta, also known as Iocaste (Iοκαστη) or Epikastê^[1] was a daughter of Menocenes, Queen of Thebes, Greece. She was the wife of Laius. Mother of Oedipus by Laius, and mother of Antigone, Eteocles, Polynices and Ismene by Oedipus. She was also sister of Creon. Jocasta is a character in Greek mythology. ... The bust of Zeus found at Otricoli (Sala Rotonda, Museo Pio-Clementino, Vatican) Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the Ancient Greeks concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. ... In Greek mythology, Menoeceus was the father of Jocasta and Creon, and (in a true Greek-drama way) both grandfather and father-in-law of Oedipus. ... Thebes (Demotic Greek: Θήβα — Thíva; Katharevousa: — Thêbai or Thívai) is a city in Greece, situated to the north of the Cithaeron range, which divides Boeotia from Attica, and on the southern edge of the Boeotian plain. ... Laius abducting Chrysippus, who is reaching out to Pelops, his father (detail). ... For other uses, see Oedipus (disambiguation). ... Laius abducting Chrysippus, who is reaching out to Pelops, his father (detail). ... Antigone by Frederic Leighton, 1882 Antigone (Pronunciation: /æntɪɡəni/ Greek: Αντιγόνη) is the name of two different women in Greek mythology. ... Eteocles and Polynices, by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo In Greek mythology, Eteocles was a king of Thebes, the son of Oedipus and either Jocasta or Euryganeia. ... In Greek mythology, Polynices was the son of Oedipus and Jocasta. ... Tydeus and Ismene, Corinthian black-figure amphora, ca. ... For other uses, see Oedipus (disambiguation). ... There are two kings in Greek mythology named Creon, or Kreeon (ruler), and one historical person. ...

Her husband, King Laius of Thebes, consulted an oracle when she was pregnant with Oedipus. The oracle told Laius that the child was destined to kill his father and marry his own mother. Laius left the child on a mountain to die after mounting his ankle to the cliff. He was found by a shepherd and sent to King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth,via a messenger. Consulting the Oracle by John William Waterhouse, showing eight priestesses in a temple of prophecy An oracle is a person or persons considered to be the source of wise counsel or prophetic opinion; an infallible authority, usually spiritual in nature. ...

Trying to escape his newly discovered fate of killing his father, Oedipus flees Corinth, not knowing King Polybus is not his true father. On his journey Oedipus unknowingly kills King Laius, and marries Queen Jocasta of Thebes. According to some versions, Jocasta had a necklace that she inherited that allowed her to retain her youth, so she was able to remain beautiful and marry her own son. When Jocasta discovered she had married her own son and gave birth to their incestuous children Jocasta committed suicide by hanging herself. In response, Oedipus pierced his eyeballs with Jocasta's brooches (the Sophocles version). However, in the Phoenician Women by Euripides, Jocasta doesn't commit suicide until she witnesses the death of her sons Eteocles and Polynices who have slain each other in a battle for Thebes. In this version she dies by stabbing herself in the throat with a sword. The Phoenician Women (Also known by the Greek title, Phoenissae) is a tragedy by Euripides based on the same story as Aeschylus play Seven Against Thebes. ... A statue of Euripides. ... Eteocles and Polynices, by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo In Greek mythology, Eteocles was a king of Thebes, the son of Oedipus and either Jocasta or Euryganeia. ... In Greek mythology, Polynices was the son of Oedipus and Jocasta. ...

See also: Oedipus the King by Sophocles. Greek Wikisource has original text related to this article: Oedipus the King Oedipus the King (Greek , Oedipus Tyrannos), also known as Oedipus Rex, is a Greek tragedy, written by Sophocles and first performed in 428 BC. The play was the second of Sophocles three Theban plays to be produced, but... Sophocles (ancient Greek: ; 495 BC - 406 BC) was the second of three great ancient Greek tragedians. ...

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