ID: 901002035 Page link: http://vocab.getty.edu/page/ia/901002035	Record Type: Event/Narrative

	Oedipus and the Sphinx (Greek narrative)

Note: Oedipus and the mythic predatory monster, the Sphinx, memorably told by the great Greek tragedian, Sophocles (498-406 BCE). The creature plagued the city of Thebes, accosting travelers and killing everyone who could not answer her riddle: "What goes on four legs in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three in the evening?" Oedipus defeated the Sphinx by answering the riddle: it is man, himself, who crawls as an infant, rises to two feet as an adult, and often requires the aid of a walking stick as a "third leg" in old age, the "evening" of life. In responding correctly, Oedipus saved his own life and all of Thebes, and became the city’s king.

Names:

	Oedipus and the Sphinx (Greek narrative) (preferred,English-P,D)

Hierarchical Position:

		Legend, Religion, Mythology (P)
		....<Greek iconography> (P)
		........<Greek narratives> (P)
		............Story of Oedipus (I)
		................Oedipus and the Sphinx (Greek narrative) (P)

Related Iconography:

	protagonist is .... Oedipus, King of Thebes
	..........(Legend, Religion, Mythology, Greek iconography, Greek characters, Oedipus, King of Thebes (Greek character)) [901000098]

	topic is .... Ages of Man
	..........(Miscellaneous Topics, Miscellaneous Allegory, Symbolism, Theme, Miscellaneous allegorical or symbolic characters, Ages of Man (allegorical theme)) [901001111]

Other Relationships:

	role/characteristic is .... narrative (literary works)
	.....(genres for literature, genres in literature and performing arts, concepts in the arts and humanities, Associated Concepts (hierarchy name)) (AAT)

	actor is .... sphinx
	.....(legendary beings, Animalia (kingdom), Eukaryota (domain), living organisms (entities), Living Organisms (hierarchy name)) (AAT)

	topic is .... riddle (document)
	.....(word and number puzzles and games, documents by function, document genres, information forms (objects), Information Forms (hierarchy name), Visual and Verbal Communication (hierarchy name)) (AAT)

Sources:

	Oedipus and the Sphinx (Greek narrative)
	................Metropolitan Museum of Art [online] (2001-)
	................Iconclass Illustrated Edition (2022-) in 94T33 Oedipus and the sphinx; he solves the riddle

Iconography Record Sources:

	................ Iconclass Illustrated Edition (2022-) in 94T33 Oedipus and the sphinx; he solves the riddle
	................ Metropolitan Museum of Art [online] (2001-) https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/437153
	................ Source for image https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oedipus#/media/File:IngresOdipusAndSphinx.jpg