Jocasta

== = = = = =I. The Myth= = = ====Jocasta, which means "Telling Star" is known by many names, such as Epikaste and Iokaste, but Queen Jocasta of Thebes will forever be remembered for bearing the curse of sharing in Oedipus' tragic, inauspicious fate, throughout the annals of time.====

====She was born to Monoeceus and an unnamed mother and was the sister of Hipponome and Creon. Later in her life, she was wed to King Laius of Thebes. She eventually bore him a son, who was named Oedipus. Before this however, her husband, King Laius, had consulted an Oracle, who was a seer of sorts blessed by the gods in Greco-Roman mythology, and she made a prophecy that Oedipus would, later in his life,====

====Unbeknownst to Jocasta and her husband, servant pitied the infant whom he believed was about to have his life unjustly forfeited from him, spared the child, and young Oedipus grows up in Corinth in the household of King Polybus and Queen Merope, his adopted parents. The child grew up, and he heard the same prophecy his father had been told years earlier by the Oracle at Delphi.====

====At the very same time as Oedipus' upbringing, Thebes, the city of Queen Jocasta and her husband was terrorized by the Sphinx, a monster that was part man, lion and bird. Somewhere along the way, Jocasta's son, Oedipus, wound up killing his father, and answering the Sphinx's riddle. His boon for all his troubles: the Kingdom of Thebes with Jocasta to stand as his queen.====

====Queen Jocasta had unwittingly and unknowingly bore her King and firstborn four children; two daughters, Eteocles and Polynices; and two sons, Ismene and Antigone. Eventually though, Queen Jocasta finds out that King Oedipus is her son and she sub==== ==

sequently hangs herself.
=II. Traits and Characteristics=

Remorseful - This can be seen when she expresses extreme disgust when she realizes what she had done, and as a result of her remorse, she committed suicide.
=III. Her role in //Oedipus Rex//= ====In a way, she can be considered as one of the catalysts that made her son trod down the path the Oracle's prophecy laid down for him. Her role in the myth is pretty straight forward, she bore Oedipus, and as a result she drove her worried husband to an Oracle, who made the prophecy that would eventually be the ruin of her entire family. Years later, she helped the prophecy come full circle by marrying her son, who was a totally unknown stranger when they met.====

=IV. Allusions=

- The modern band Noah and Whale have named a song after the famed queen. The song generally speaks of Oedipus' story.
=V. Trivia=

- It was her brother Creon who offered her as a reward to anyone who could beat the Sphinx. After she died and Oedipus' self imposed exile, it was Creon who took the throne of Thebes.
====- Jocasta's daughter Antigone struggled against her uncle Creon because of the injustice he dealt to her brother Polynices, and is later identified as the root cause for Creon's son, Haemon, ending his life.====

- The psychological disorder, Oedipus Complex, is named after Jocasta's son Oedipus, and is based on their incestuous relationship.
=VI. Sources= Information 1. Online a. http://www.pantheon.org/articles/j/jocasta.html b. http://www.fjkluth.com/jocasta.html c. http://www.in2greece.com/english/historymyth/mythology/names/jocasta.htm d. http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Iz-Le/Jocasta.html 2. Alternative a. Mythology by Edith Hamilton, pp. 268-273

Images 1. Online a. http://webpage.pace.edu/nreagin/tempmotherhood/spring2002h/typical%20jocasta%20pic.jpg b. http://www.didaskalia.net/issues/vol5no3/images/caevw9op.jpg c. http://www.deathdyinggriefandmourning.com/Death-&-Dying-Images%201-20/8-b-Oedipus-&-Jocasta.jpg