CEDIPIIS (Gr. Oidipous), the hero of a celebrated legend, which, though of the mos; revolting nature in itself, has supplied both Euripides and Sophocles with the subiect matter of some of their most celebrated tragedies. The story, as generally relatea, follows: CEdipus was the son of 'Ans. king of Thebes, by Jocaste; but his father having consulted the oracle to ascertain whether he should_ have any issue, was informed that his wife would hying forth a son, by whom lie (Lairs) should uffimatelyIte slain. Deter mined to avert so teirible ati omen, Lainsierdered 'the sou:Which JoCastebare him to Inv?? his feet pierct.d through, and to be exposed to perish on Mount Citha3ron. In this help.
less condition, CEdipus was discovered by a herdsman, and conveyed to the court of Polybus, king of Corinth, who, in allusion to the swollen feet of the child. named him Gedipus (from oideo, to swell, and pous, the foot); and along with his wife, Merope, brought him up as his own sou. Having come to man's estate, (Edipus was one day taunted with the obscurity of his origin, and in consequence proceeded to Delphi, to consult the oracle. The response which he received was, that lie would slay his father. mid commit incest with his mother. To escape this fate, he avoided returning to Cor inth, and proceeded to Thebes, on approaching which he encountered the chariot of his father; and the charioteer ordering him out of the way, a quarrel ensued, in which (Edipus ignorantly slew Laius, and thus unconsciously fulfilled the first part of the oracle. The famous Sphinx (q.v.) now appeared near Thebes, and seating herself on a rock, pro
pounded a riddle to every one wlio passed by, putting to death all who failed to solve it. The terror of the Thebans was extreme, and in despair they offered the kingdom, together with the hand of the queen, to the person who should be successful in delivering it from the monster. CEdipus came forward ; the Sphinx asked him, "What being has four feet, two feet, and three feet; only one voice; but whose feet vary, and when it has most, is weakest ?" (Edipus replied that it was " Man ;" whereupon the itself headkng from the rock. CEdipus now became king, and husband of his mother, Jocaste. From their incestuous union sprung Eteocles, Polynices, Antigone, and Isniene. A mysterious plague now devastated the country, and when the oracle declared tint before it could be stayed, the murderer of Laius should be banished from the country. (Edipus was told by the prophet Tiresias that he himself had both murdered his father and committed incest with his mother. In his horror be put out his own eyes, that he might no more look upon his fellow-creatures, while Jocaste hanged herself. Driven from his throne by his sons and his brother-in-law, Creon, (Edipus wandered towards Attica, accompanied by Antigone, and took refuge in the grove of the Eumenides, who charitably removed him from earth; but the latter part of his life is differently told.
in Scandinavian mythology, the ocean god, a jotun, but friendly to Odin.