laius

Laius (also Laïos) is a figure in Greek mythology who appears as the king of Thebes prior to Oedipus. In most accounts he is a member of the Theban royal line, traditionally described as the son of Labdacus and the husband of Jocasta, and the father of Oedipus. The exact genealogy varies among sources, with some traditions tracing his line differently, but his role as the father of Oedipus is consistent.

According to myth, Laius received a prophecy that his son would kill him and marry his wife. To prevent this, he is said to have abandoned the infant Oedipus on Mount Cithaeron after binding the child's feet. The infant was rescued and eventually came to be raised by Polybus of Corinth, unaware of his true parentage.

The prophecy is ultimately fulfilled when Oedipus, having left Corinth to avoid the fate that awaited him, encounters Laius and kills him at a crossroads. Later, Oedipus unwittingly fulfills the broader prophecy by marrying Jocasta, his biological mother. Laius's death precipitates Oedipus's rise to the throne of Thebes and the subsequent tragedy.

Laius figures prominently in ancient Greek literature, most notably in Sophocles' tragedy Oedipus Rex, where his actions and the prophecy drive the plot. The figure is typically referenced as part of the larger myth of Oedipus and Thebes.