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Sophocles · c. 496-406 BC

Oedipus at Colonus

Οἰδίπους ἐπὶ Κολωνῷ
Ancient Sources / Sophocles / Oedipus at Colonus

Read our guide to Oedipus at Colonus

Oedipus at Colonus was Sophocles' last play and was produced after his death, in 401 BC. The blind Oedipus, led by his daughter Antigone, comes as a beggar to the grove of the Eumenides at Colonus, near Athens, where an oracle has told him that his long suffering will end. Theseus protects him, and Oedipus is claimed by his enemies in Thebes, by Creon and by his son Polyneices, before he dies. The sections follow the play's own units (prologue, parodos, episodes, choral songs and exodos) and keep the standard line numbers of the Greek text.

Read from the start
Text
Greek original with English translation, 34 passages, about 16000 words in English.
Translator
Richard C. Jebb (modernised by Perseus) (1889)
Edition
Greek text: Francis Storr (ed. and trans.), Sophocles, Loeb Classical Library, London: William Heinemann, 1912, as digitised by Perseus. English: Richard C. Jebb, Sophocles: The Plays and Fragments, The Oedipus at Colonus, Cambridge University Press, 1889 (Perseus's modernised version of Jebb's prose translation)
Cite as
Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus 1 (by line number)

Contents · 34 passages

  1. 1–83Prologue: Oedipus and Antigone arrive at the sacred grove798 words
  2. 84–117Prologue (cont.): Oedipus' prayer to the Eumenides305 words
  3. 118–202Parodos: the Chorus finds Oedipus565 words
  4. 203–253bParodos (cont.): the secret name409 words
  5. 254–310First episode: Oedipus' plea to the elders554 words
  6. 311–360First episode (cont.): Ismene arrives468 words
  7. 361–420First episode (cont.): Ismene's news from Thebes588 words
  8. 421–460First episode (cont.): Oedipus' anger at his sons377 words
  9. 461–494First episode (cont.): the rite for the Eumenides330 words
  10. 495–550Second episode: Oedipus tells his story; Theseus arrives533 words
  11. 551–606Second episode (cont.): Theseus' kindness and Oedipus' request551 words
  12. 607–667Second episode (cont.): the promise of protection608 words
  13. 668–719First stasimon: the praise of Colonus312 words
  14. 720–760Third episode: Creon comes for Oedipus387 words
  15. 761–799Third episode (cont.): Oedipus answers Creon417 words
  16. 800–846aThird episode (cont.): the quarrel and the seizure of Antigone508 words
  17. 848–886Third episode (cont.): Creon seizes Oedipus391 words
  18. 887–938Third episode (cont.): Theseus arrives and orders the pursuit496 words
  19. 939–1013Third episode (cont.): Creon's defence and Oedipus' reply764 words
  20. 1014–1043Third episode (cont.): Theseus goes after the girls307 words
  21. 1044–1098Second stasimon: the Chorus imagine the pursuit314 words
  22. 1099–1138Fourth episode: the girls are brought back410 words
  23. 1139–1180Fourth episode (cont.): a suppliant at Poseidon's altar428 words
  24. 1181–1210Fourth episode (cont.): Antigone persuades her father306 words
  25. 1211–1253Third stasimon: the burden of old age290 words
  26. 1254–1283Fifth episode: Polyneices arrives284 words
  27. 1284–1345Fifth episode (cont.): Polyneices' plea578 words
  28. 1346–1398Fifth episode (cont.): Oedipus curses Polyneices542 words
  29. 1399–1447Fifth episode (cont.): Polyneices goes to his fate492 words
  30. 1448–1496Kommos: the thunder and the call for Theseus377 words
  31. 1500–1555Sixth episode: Oedipus tells Theseus the secret of his burial561 words
  32. 1556–1666Fourth stasimon; the Messenger reports the death of Oedipus942 words
  33. 1667–1713Exodos: the daughters mourn361 words
  34. 1714–1779Exodos (cont.): Theseus and the end440 words

More by Sophocles

English translation by Richard C. Jebb (modernised by Perseus) (1889). Original text: Greek text: Francis Storr (ed. and trans.), Sophocles, Loeb Classical Library, London: William Heinemann, 1912, as digitised by Perseus. English: Richard C. Jebb, Sophocles: The Plays and Fragments, The Oedipus at Colonus, Cambridge University Press, 1889 (Perseus's modernised version of Jebb's prose translation).

Greek text and translation from the Perseus Digital Library, Tufts University, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Perseus Digital Library); translation public domain. Introductions, summaries and notes © GreekMythology.com.