An indispensable guide to the myth of Oedipus this book is the first to analyze its long and varied history from ancient times to the modern day, and presented with an authoritative survey that considers Oedipus in art and music as well as in literature.
Lowell Edmunds accepts this variation as the driving force in its longevity and popularity. Refraining from seeking for an original form of the myth, Edmunds relates the changes in content in the myth to changes in meaning, eschewing the notion that one particular version can be set as standard.
Why Oedipus? Introducing Oedipus. Key Themes 1. Oedipus before Tragedy: Cults and Theban Epic 2. Oedipus in Fifth-Century Tragedy 3. Oedipus in Rome and the Latin Middle Ages 4. Oedipus in the Twentieth Century Oedipus Afterwards Conclusion: Oedipus in Crisis or Still King? Genealogical Table. Further Reading. Works Cited. Illustrations. Index
Biography
Lowell Edmunds
'a good contribution to the series... presented very attractively' - The Bryn Mawr Classical Review
"Well-presented overview of this intriguing figure, whose popularity in the ancient world in both myth and cult is matched by his enduring afterlife in later literature and art. Edmunds’s clear style makes this book a good read for wider audiences, while it will also hold specialists’ interest." -Oxford Bibliographies Online
