Laius
King of Thebes
whom with his Queen Jocaste had Oedipus, who eventually killed him. According
to one version Laius had kidnapped king Pelop's son Chrysippos, and this brought
a curse on his house, the Labdacitean house. The crime had angered Hera and
she punished Laius by making him childless. He then went to the oracle of
Delphi, which told him he would not have children, but if he did have a son
he would one day be killed by him. When Oedipus was born, Laius put the baby
in the mountains with spears through its feet, thereof the name Oedipus -
swollen foot.
The child was saved by shepherds and later killed his father and married his
mother.
