Oedipus at Colonus Oedipus at Colonus Oedipus at Colonus (also Oedipus Coloneus, , "Oidipous epi Kolōnōi") is one of the three Theban plays of the Athenian tragedian Sophocles. It was written shortly before Sophocles' death in 406 BC and produced by his grandson (also called Sophocles) at the Festival of Dionysus in 401 BC. In the timeline of the plays, the events of "Oedipus at Colonus" occur after "Oedipus Rex" and before "Antigone"; however, it was the last of Sophocles' three Theban plays to be written. The play describes the end of Oedipus' tragic life. Legends differ as to the site of Oedipus'
Oedipus Rex order to end a plague ravaging Thebes, unaware that the killer he is looking for is none other than himself. At the end of the play, after the truth finally comes to light, Jocasta hangs herself while Oedipus, horrified at his patricide and incest, proceeds to gouge out his own eyes in despair. "Oedipus Rex" is regarded by many scholars as the masterpiece of ancient Greek tragedy. In his "Poetics", Aristotle refers several times to the play in order to exemplify aspects of the genre. Many parts or elements of the myth of Oedipus occur before the opening scene of