The story of Oedipus is fun until it isn't. I've met people with varying degrees of familiarity with the story. Some are familiar only with the central premise of the story, while others' knowledge only extends to a certain disgusting little complex popularized by a similarly-disgusting Viennese psychologist. Regardless, the story of Oedipus is a fascinating commentary on fate, our willing blindness to uncomfortable truths, and why you should, under no circumstances, talk to prophets. Seriously, they will mess up your life.
The creature this week is the Tanuki from Japan, with two big surprises for you.
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Music:
"Skeptic" | "Modest House" | "In My Head" | "A1 Rogue"
"Readers Do You Read" | "Wonder Cycle" | "Everybody's Got Problems that Aren't Mine"
"Seeker" by Kai Engel | "Mogul" by Blue Dot Sessions | "Plaster Combo" by Blue Dot Sessions
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Disclaimer
There's some non-graphic talk of incest between a mother and son. Also, Oedipus claws his eyes out, but I don't go into any detail because I can't stand eye stuff.
The creature of the week has giant, magical, transforming testicles. Yeah.
Is there a transcript for this episode? I’d like to use it in my classroom.
First off, love the podcast! I really enjoy the humorous, modern look you take at these ancient tales, particularly the Greek Myths, of which I am quite well read.
I was just wondering if the Sophocles play was your only source for this episode, because in many other versions of the Myth the Necklace of Harmonia plays a very big role. I was a little surprised that you didn’t include it because you’re usually great about discussing all kinds of magical items. I figured the Sophocles play was the only source you used and hadn’t heard about it.
According to the myth’s I’ve read, when Cadmus founded the city of Thebes, he was given a wife by the gods. Her name was Harmonia and she was a daughter of Aphrodite from an affair she’d had with Ares. All the gods came to their wedding and gave the couple gifts. As you probably know by now, nothing good ever happens when the gods throw you a party.
Hephaestus, Aphrodite’s husband, still mad about her affair with Ares, gave Harmonia a magic necklace that would keep her young and beautiful as long as she wore it. He also placed a curse on it that caused a lot of grief for all the women of the House of Thebes and is pretty much the source of all the later generation’s misfortunes. The Necklace of Harmonia was the reason why Jocasta was still pretty enough for Oedipus to marry, even though she was literally old enough to be his mother.
Even after Oedipus left Thebes, the Necklace of Harmonia kept on causing problems for the family until some of Oedipus’s descendants were smart enough to give it to the Oracle of Delphi to prevent anymore bloodshed.
Just thought I would share that little tidbit with you.
Again, love the podcast!
I loved Harmonia’s necklace in Greek Mythology. I actually wrote a paper about it in college, comparing it to the One Ring from the Lord of the Rings.