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Teiresias

Teiresias. Blind Prophet Given wisdom by Apollo Lived seven lifetimes as both woman and man After death he was sole person in Hades to retain gifts of speech and understanding. Teiresias’s Role in Oedipus. His blindness reveals the truth Confrontation with Oedipus concerning true “vision”

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Teiresias

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  1. Teiresias • Blind Prophet • Given wisdom by Apollo • Lived seven lifetimes as both woman and man • After death he was sole person in Hades to retain gifts of speech and understanding

  2. Teiresias’s Role in Oedipus • His blindness reveals the truth • Confrontation with Oedipus concerning true “vision” • Reveals Oedipus’ hamartia (excess pride/impetuousness) • Didactism

  3. Oedipus the Character • A man of extremes • Proclaims himself “God-like)  Tempts fate • Disregards Teiresias due to his “blindness” • Does sight = knowledge? • Flawed due to hubris (excess pride)

  4. Oedipus and Tiresias: • “I know that the vision of our lord Tiresias is most like that of Lord Apollo.” • Although blind Tiresias has insight greater than that of a man.

  5. Oedipus and Tiresias • “You cannot equal the gods…but we do rate you first of men.” • Oedipus is sighted as men are; yet he lacks insight into the truth about himself and his world, as all mortals are likely to lack such insight. • Tiresias: “I tell you, you and your loved ones live together, in infamy, you cannot see how far you’ve gone in guilt.” • Mutual accusations draw heavily on the image of blindness

  6. Oedipus and Tiresias • Oedipus: “You’ve lost your power, stone-blind, stone – deaf, senses, eyes as blind as stone.” • Tiresias: “ I pity you, flinging at me the very insults each man here will fling at you soon.” • Oedipus: “Blind, lost in the night, endless night that nursed you! You can’t hurt me or anyone else who sees the light – you can never touch me.” • Tiresias: “You with your precious eyes you’re blind to the corruption of your life... You mock my blindness, do you? But I say that you, with both your eyes, are blind.”

  7. The “Big” Question • What is man? What is the purpose of existence? • Man most often questions the nature of existence during a period of flux • A violent, changing world • Social, political, and philosophical conflict • Fear abounds • Sophocles is conflicted between Traditionalism (Gods and Myths <Fate>) and Individualism (the new democracy <Free Will>) • O Generation of mortal men • I add up the total of your lives • And find it equals nothing

  8. The Olympians

  9. King of gods Heaven Storms Thunder Lightning Bolt Zeus

  10. Apollo (Phoebus) • God of the sun • Music • Poetry • Fine arts • Medicine

  11. Hades • Brother to Zeus and Poseidon • King of the Underworld (Tartarus) • Husband of Persphone

  12. Dionysus (Bacchus) • God of Wine • Partying (Revelry)

  13. Messenger to the gods Trade Commerce Travelers Thieves & scoundrels Hermes

  14. Athena • Goddess of wisdom • Practical arts • War

  15. Artemis • Goddess of hunting and the moon.

  16. Demeter • Goddess of Harvest • Agriculture • Fertility • Fruitfulness • Mom to Persephone

  17. Hera • Queen of gods • Women • Marriage • Childbirth

  18. Poseidon • Zeus’s brother • King of the sea • Earthquakes • Horses

  19. Ares • God of war

  20. Hephaestus • God of fire • Craftspeople • Metalworkers • Artisans

  21. Hestia • Goddess of Hearth • Home • Community

  22. Aphrodite • Goddess of love and beauty

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