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The myth of the great Theban hero, Oidipous, well illustrates the multiplicity of conceptions which clustered about the daily career of the solar orb. His father, Laios, had been warned by the Delphic oracle that he was in danger of death from his own son.
The newly born Oidipous was therefore exposed on the hillside, but, like Romulus and Remus, and all infants similarly situated in legend, was duly rescued. He was taken to Corinth, where he grew up to manhood. Journeying once to Thebes, he got into a quarrel with an old man whom he met on the road, and slew him, who was none other than his father, Laios.
She was the victim of her own morbid imagination. In this condition an insignificant and casual circumstane decided her fate. "Her nephew, a child, lived with her. One morning he was, as usual, studying his lessons in the dining-room where she happened to be. The head divine; of Jocasta; is dead.... tearing her hair; she calls; Laïos dead... we see; the woman hung.
Like all the solar heroes, from Herakles and Perseus to Sigurd and William Tell, he performs his marvellous deeds at the behest of others. His father, Laios, is none other than the Vedic Dasyu, the night-demon who is sure to be destroyed by his solar offspring In the evening, Oidipous is united to the Dawn, the mother who had borne him at daybreak; and here the original story doubtless ended.
Thus destiny which from their fathers holdeth the happy fortune of this race , together with prosperity heaven-sent bringeth ever at some other time better reverse: from the day when Laïos was slain by his destined son who met him on the road and made fulfilment of the oracle spoken of old at Pytho.
Thus the latter part of the story arose in the effort to satisfy a moral feeling As the name of Laios denotes the dark night, so, like Iole, Oinone, and Iamos, the word Iokaste signifies the delicate violet tints of the morning and evening clouds.
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