Irlandos at 10:52, January 28, 2006

2006-01-28T10:52:31Z

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In [[Greek mythology]], '''Jocasta''', also '''Iocaste''' (Iοκάστη) or '''Epikastê''', was a daughter of [[Menocenes]]. She was the wife of [[Laius]] and by him, mother (and later wife) of [[Oedipus]] and mother (by Oedipus) of [[Antigone]], [[Eteocles]], [[Polynices]] and [[Ismene]].

Her husband, King Laius of [[Thebes]], consulted an [[oracle]] when she was pregnant with her first child, Oedipus. The oracle told Laius that the child was destined to kill his father and marry his own mother. Laius had the baby left out in the woods to die. He was found by a shepherd and given to King [[Polybus]] and Queen [[Merope]] (or [[Periboea]]) of [[Corinth]].

Later, Oedipus killed Laius, not knowing who he was, and married Jocasta, not knowing who she was. When this was discovered, Oedipus tore out his own eyes with Jocasta's brooch, and then Jocasta committed suicide by hanging. 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.

See also: ''[[Oedipus the King]]'' by [[Sophocles]].

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[[Category:Greek mythological people]]

Jocasta - Revision history

Irlandos at 10:52, January 28, 2006