Homer Hesiod Hymns Tragedy Remythologizing Tools Canvas Info
Levi-Strauss' reading of the Theban myth cycle

OVERRATING OF BLOOD RELATIONS

UNDERRATING OF BLOOD RELATIONSNEGATIVE VALUING OF CHTHONIC BIRTHPOSITIVE VALUING OF CHTHONIC BIRTH

KADMOS SEEKS SISTER


KADMOS KILLS THE DRAGON

SPARTOI KILL EACH OTHER



LABDACUS = "LAME"

OEDIPUS KILLS HIS FATHER LAIUS

LAIUS = "LEFT-SIDED"
OEDIPUS KILLS SPHINX
OEDIPUS = "SWOLLEN FOOT"

OEDIPUS MARRIES HIS MOTHER JOCASTA




ETEOCLES AND POLYNICES KILL EACH OTHER


ANTIGONE BURIES HER

BROTHER DESPITE PROHIBITION



narrative telling of the story: chronology is top to bottom; left to right

structuralist understanding of the story: two columns of polarity

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