Oedipus Rex, also known by its Greek title, Oedipus Tyrannus (Ancient Greek: Οἰδίπους Τύραννος, pronounced [oidípuːs týrannos]), or Oedipus the King, is an Athenian tragedy written by Sophocles. The play is thought to have been first performed c. 429 BC, although this is highly uncertain. Although the play won only second place at its initial performance, it was later considered by Aristotle to be one of the greatest Greek tragedies, and is now widely considered one of the greatest plays of Western literature, and the most famous of all Greek tragedies. Oedipus Rex is likely the fourth out of the seven surviving plays by Sophocles. It is one of three surviving plays that deal with the story of Oedipus and Thebes.
Adaptations (2)
Oedipus Rex has been adapted into 2 films, from 1957 to 1968. The most recent is Oedipus the King (1968).
Oedipus Rex1957 · film · 87 min · dir. Tyrone Guthrie, Abraham Polonsky · IMDb ↗IMDb6.5The story of Oedipus' gradual discovery of his primal crime, killing his father and marrying his mother, filmed by the famed British theatrical director Sir Tyrone Guthrie. This elegant version of Sophocles' play adds a brilliant stroke: the actors wear masks just as the Greeks did in the playwright's day.
Oedipus the King1968 · film · 97 min · dir. Philip Saville · IMDb ↗IMDb6.4This classic Greek tale tells how a noble youth accidentally marries his own mother, kills his own father and ends up paying a terrible price for invoking the wrath of the Gods.
