Oedipus Rex Group

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kkristinxxl
kkristinxxl
Student
High School - 12th Grade

What is the house of Cadmus in Oedipus Rex?

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Posted by kkristinxxl on Monday September 28, 2009 at 5:20 PM and tagged with house of cadmus.

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  1. mstultz72 Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Cadmus is the original name for the city of Thebes.  So, the House of Cadmus is really the House of Thebes.  It is Oedipus and all his decedents as found in Sophocles' Oedipus Trilogy: Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone.

    It begins with Oedipus's parents, Laius and Jocasta.  Then, as you know, Oedipus kills his father and marries his mother.  They have four children: Eteocles, Polyneices, Antigone, and Ismene.

    As you know, the House of Thebes is rather cursed, as is the city-state of Thebes accordingly.  Not only is it cursed with murder, incest, plagues, and the Sphinx, but the dueling brothers Eteocles and Polyneices bring destruction on the city-state through a civil war.  You can read about the Seven Armies Against Thebes in the links below.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/antigone/historical-context
    http://www.enotes.com/oedipus-rex/historical-context

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    Posted by mstultz72 on Monday September 28, 2009 at 8:09 PM


  2. laljade2 Teacher
    College - Senior

    Cadmus is a Phoenician prince (son of king Agenor of Tyre) who founded the city of Thebes. Cadmeia was the original name of Thebes. It was named in his honour. So, house of Cadmus could simply refer to the city.

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    Posted by laljade2 on Sunday October 18, 2009 at 12:27 PM