While no Greek god slept with his mother, the mythical Greek king Oedipus unknowingly slept with his mother, Jocasta.
The Tragedy of Oedipus
Oedipus's story is one of the most famous and tragic in Greek mythology. His fate was sealed by a prophecy foretelling that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Here's a breakdown of the key events:
- The Prophecy: An oracle foretold that Oedipus would kill his father, Laius, and marry his mother, Jocasta, the King and Queen of Thebes.
- Abandonment: To avoid the prophecy, Laius and Jocasta abandoned their infant son, Oedipus, on a mountainside with his feet bound.
- Rescue and Adoption: A shepherd rescued Oedipus, and he was adopted by King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth, who raised him as their own son.
- Fulfillment of the Prophecy: As a young man, Oedipus learned of the prophecy and, believing Polybus and Merope were his true parents, fled Corinth to avoid fulfilling it. On his journey, he encountered and killed Laius (his biological father) in a dispute, unknowingly fulfilling part of the prophecy. He then solved the riddle of the Sphinx, freeing Thebes from its terror. As a reward, he married Queen Jocasta (his biological mother), unknowingly fulfilling the remaining part of the prophecy.
- The Discovery: Years later, a plague struck Thebes, and the truth of Oedipus's parentage and actions was revealed.
- Consequences: Jocasta hanged herself, and Oedipus, in despair, blinded himself.
Therefore, while technically not a god, Oedipus, a central figure in Greek tragedy, unknowingly committed incest with his mother, making it a crucial element of his tragic story.
