A complete dictionary of the Greek and Roman antiquities explaining the obscure places in classic authors and ancient historians relating to the religion, mythology, history, geography and chronology of the ancient Greeks and Romans, their ... rites and customs, laws, polity, arts and engines of war : also an account of their navigations, arts and sciences and the inventors of them : with the lives and opinions of their philosophers / compiled originally in French ... by Monsieur Danet ; made English, with the addition of very useful mapps.

OEDIPUS;

the Son of Laius and Jocasta; Laius, King of Thehes, having married Jocasta, the Daughter of Creon, understood by the Ora∣cle, that they should have a Son born of that Mar∣riage, who should kill him; which made him command Jocasta to strangle all the Children she should bear: Oedipus being born, his Mother gave him to a Soldier to kill him, in pursuance to the King's Command, but he contented him∣self to make Holes in his Feet, and to run an Ozier Twig thro' them, wherewith he hung him to a Tree upon Mount Cithaeron. Phorbas, one of Polybius his Shepherds, who was King of Co∣rinth, finding the Infant hanging in that man∣ner, and taking pitty of him, he made a Pre∣sent of him to the Queen, who brought him up as her own Child; they gave him the Name of Oedipus, because of the Swelling that remained in his Feet, which had been pierced through. When he grew up, he went to consult the Ora∣cle, in order to know who was his Father, answer was made, That he should find him in Phocis; upon which he went thither, and meeting with him in a popular Tumult, he killed his Father Laius, and did not know him, as he endeavoured to appease them. Juno being an Enemy to the Thebans, sent the Monster Sphinx near unto Thebes, that had the Face and Speech of a Virgin, the Body of a Dog, the Tail of a Dragon, and the Claws of a Lion, with the Wings of a Pird. she proposed some Enigmatical Questions or Riddies to all Passengers, and if they could not resolve the same, she presently devoured them,

insomuch that no Body durst come near the City: Hereupon they had Recourse to the Ora∣cle, who answered, they could not be freed from this Monster, unless this Riddle were explain∣ed, viz. What Animal it was that in the Morn∣ing went upon Four Feet, at Noon upon Two, and at Night upon Three. Creon, who had pos∣sest himself of the Kingdom after the Death of Laius, caused it to be published throughout all Greece, that he would quit his Kingdom, and give Joeasta, Laius his Widow, for a Wife to any one that should explain the Riddle: Oedipus did it, and explained it thus; saying, That it was a Man, who in his Infancy crawled upon all Fours like a Beast, leaning upon his Hands and Feet; that at Years of Maturity he went only upon his Two Feet; and at last being broken with Age, leaned upon a Stick as he walked. The Monster seeing her self overcome, and trans∣ported with Rage, went and knock'd her own Brains out against a Rock. Oedipus as his Re∣ward had the Kingdom given him, and igno∣rantly married his own Mother Jocasta. In the mean time the Gods sent a terrible Plague upon Athens, to revenge the Death of Laius, which, according to the Oracle, whom they consulted for that Purpose, was not to cease, but with the banishment of him who had killed him: Upon this they had Recourse to the Art of Negro-mancy, for the Discovering of him, and it was found to be Oedipus; who then coming to know his Crimes, put out both his Eyes, and con∣demned himself to perpetual Banishment: He withdrew when he was very old to Athens, to die there, according to the Order of the Ora∣cle, near the Temple of the terrible Goddesses, in a Place named Equestris Colonus, where Nep∣tune, surnamed Equestris, was worshipped.