Древнейшее место культа Эдипа [Alexander Zaicev: The Oldest Location of Oedipus’ Cult]

Abstract

Although Pausanias (1. 30. 4) mentions a heroon of Oedipus in Colonus, it follows from the final scene of Soph. OC (1732, 1757–1763) that in Attica of Sophocles’ times, his burial site was considered unknown and there was no heroon erected over his grave. Despite the numerous sources we possess, there is no evidence of Oedipus’ cult in Thebes in historical times. However, there is a testimony (sch. Soph. OC 91) that Oedipus was buried in the sanctuary of Demeter in the Boeotian town of Eteon, identified with Scaphlae, at the foot of the Cithaeron. The inhabitants of such a secluded place could hardly claim the authenticity of this burial if it were challenged in Thebes or Colonus. This is an argument for supposing that the cult of Oedipus originated precisely in Eteon-Scaphlae. This is further supported by the hints in Soph. OR (421; 1451–1454) and Sen. Phoen. (13; 31) that Oedipus was destined to die on Cithaeron, if we apply Th. Zielinski’s method of reconstructing lost mythic versions from rudimentary motifs in tragedy.