I’m Sorry, Why is NOBODY Talking About the Problematic Age Gap Between Oedipus and His Mother???

by Ben Schrager. Instagram: @ben.schrager. Bluesky: @benschrager.bsky.social

THEBES, GR - Readers of my column that I etch into literal columns on The Parthenon often accuse me of focusing too much on our leaders. They say I don’t care enough about the day-to-day issues affecting your everyday Theban goat herders, slave drivers, and erotic pottery artisans. Why focus on our king and queen, when there are much greater things plaguing our city? Most notably: The Plague. 

But I focus on them because the way our leaders behave impacts our culture. Which brings me to the minotaur in the room: Why is NOBODY talking about the problematic age gap between Oedipus and Jocasta???

Yes, Oedipus is hard at work trying to rid the city of the Plague by finding and banishing the killer of former King Laius, beloved first husband to Jocasta and a man who looked eerily similar to King Oedipus. But that doesn’t mean this type of discourse doesn’t still matter.

While Oedipus and Jocasta are two consenting adults who also look eerily and genetically similar, that doesn’t make it any less problematic.

I don’t want to disparage our King. Oedipus is a vicious, bloodthirsty tyrant, and we of course love him for that. He has done many great things for us in Thebes: tourism, for example, is coming back now that the Sphinx is no longer devouring travelers at the entrance of the city.

(As an aside, I think we can all agree that the Sphinx’s riddle was kind of bullshit, right? Like, a walking stick isn’t a “leg” it’s a fucking walking stick. Sorry, I had a cousin who was eaten by the Sphinx. I miss you, Jeff).

Great accomplishments don’t then excuse normalizing predatory relationships. Sure, they may delude themselves into thinking their love is different, but we all know these Thargeliṓn-Poseideṓn relationships never last.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that ALL age gaps are problematic. What Greek man hasn’t partook in the great tradition of having sex with teenage boys? Consenting adults can do what they like with each other and/or with teenage boys, but that’s not the same as trying to form a romantic bond with someone half your age. Especially when the older partner is a woman and the younger partner is a man. That’s just creepy and wrong.

I mean, she’s old enough to be his mother! You’d have to be blind not to see it.