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Oedipus Rex

Drama and Theatre

Oedipus Rex, also known as Oedipus Tyrannus or Oedipus the King, is an Athenian tragedy written by Sophocles, thought to have been first performed around 429 BC, although this is highly uncertain. Although it won only second place at its initial performance, it was later considered by Aristotle one of the greatest Greek tragedies and is now widely regarded as one of the greatest plays of Western literature and the most famous of all Greek tragedies. The play concerns Oedipus, who has become king of Thebes while unwittingly fulfilling a prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother, searching for the murderer of the previous king in order to end a plague ravaging Thebes, unaware that the killer he seeks is himself.

Facts
Disputed
Composed, From (Year)
from 429 BCE 1
Wikipedia's lead states the play is thought to have first been performed circa 429 BC, but calls this "highly uncertain".
Classification
Audience
General 1
Original Language
Ancient Greek (to 1453) (grc, ISO 639-3) 1
Length Band
Novel 2
Connections

Authored By

Sophocles, Authors
Source Oedipus Rex (Wikipedia)

In Genre

Tragedy, Genres
Source Oedipus Rex (Wikipedia)

Long-Form Articles

Written In Form

Source Oedipus Rex (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Original Language

Also in Language Atlas: the original language of this subject.

Originated In

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.

Sources
1. Oedipus Rex (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Lead section
    The play is thought to have been first performed c. 429 BC, although this is highly uncertain.
  • Lead
    or Oedipus the King, is an Athenian tragedy written by Sophocles.
  • Lead paragraph
    Oedipus Rex, also known by its Greek title, Oedipus Tyrannus (Ancient Greek: Οἰδίπους Τύραννος, pronounced [oidípuːs týrannos]), or Oedipus the King, is an Athenian tragedy written by Sophocles. The play is thought to have been first performed c. 429 BC, although this is highly uncertain.
  • Authored By: Sophocles, Lead section, authorship
    Oedipus Rex...is an Athenian tragedy written by Sophocles.
  • In Genre: Tragedy, Lead section, genre
    is an Athenian tragedy written by Sophocles
  • Written In Form: The Play (Dramatic Form), Lead sentence
    is an Athenian tragedy written by Sophocles.
View the Source
2. Open Library: Open Library search: Oedipus Rex by Sophocles
Open LibrarySearch result, first work
Quote, Search result, first work
"number_of_pages_median": 126
View the Source
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