Tiresias, The Theban Seer
In Greek mythology, Tiresias, also transliterated as Teiresias is the prophet who represents the gods and the son of the shepherd Everes and the nymph Chariclo. Though he is the seer, the one who is given prophecies through the birds, he is ironically a blind man. He gives his foresights to other people , so that people can choose a correct path of life or somehow can prevent themselves from disasters, sent by gods. Tiresias once articulated in Antigone that, he is the seer and that it is his duty to guide the 'blind' who is being referred to Creon.
There are many opinions on how Tiresias becomes blinded, as he is not a blind since born. Some say that Tiresias is blinded by the gods because he discloses their secrets to mortal men. Others saying that Athena blinds the young Tiresias by covering his eyes with her hands when he surprised her naked. Later, not being able to undo the damage, Athena cleanses instead his ears that she causes him to understand the sounds of birds. Athena also gives Tiresias a staff made of cornel-wood and with it, he could walk like those who can see.
It is also said that the old laws of Cronos that has inflicted the penalty of blindness on any mortal who beheld an immortal without consent. Later, he is granted the power to utter oracles, to understand the birds, to live a long life, and after his death, to keep his understanding among the dead. Besides that, Tiresias is also said to be cursed and transformed into woman for seven long years. But, later he has transformed back into a man.
Through his life, he plays big roles both in Oedipus, The King and also Antigone. He is the one who reveals all the secrets lie across the hidden truth. He is the one who makes the revelation that Oedipus is the murderer of his own father, Laius and he also advises the later King of Thebes, Creon not to decide for himself of other people's fate as it is in Gods' power and that his decree will only bring him harm.
Now, the figure of Tiresias has been much depicted by fiction writers and poets in their poems, novels and plays. This is because Tiresias as both the greatest seer of the Classical mythos, a figure cursed by the gods, and both man and woman is seen as very useful to the authors.
In Greek mythology, Tiresias, also transliterated as Teiresias is the prophet who represents the gods and the son of the shepherd Everes and the nymph Chariclo. Though he is the seer, the one who is given prophecies through the birds, he is ironically a blind man. He gives his foresights to other people , so that people can choose a correct path of life or somehow can prevent themselves from disasters, sent by gods. Tiresias once articulated in Antigone that, he is the seer and that it is his duty to guide the 'blind' who is being referred to Creon.
There are many opinions on how Tiresias becomes blinded, as he is not a blind since born. Some say that Tiresias is blinded by the gods because he discloses their secrets to mortal men. Others saying that Athena blinds the young Tiresias by covering his eyes with her hands when he surprised her naked. Later, not being able to undo the damage, Athena cleanses instead his ears that she causes him to understand the sounds of birds. Athena also gives Tiresias a staff made of cornel-wood and with it, he could walk like those who can see.
It is also said that the old laws of Cronos that has inflicted the penalty of blindness on any mortal who beheld an immortal without consent. Later, he is granted the power to utter oracles, to understand the birds, to live a long life, and after his death, to keep his understanding among the dead. Besides that, Tiresias is also said to be cursed and transformed into woman for seven long years. But, later he has transformed back into a man.
Through his life, he plays big roles both in Oedipus, The King and also Antigone. He is the one who reveals all the secrets lie across the hidden truth. He is the one who makes the revelation that Oedipus is the murderer of his own father, Laius and he also advises the later King of Thebes, Creon not to decide for himself of other people's fate as it is in Gods' power and that his decree will only bring him harm.
Now, the figure of Tiresias has been much depicted by fiction writers and poets in their poems, novels and plays. This is because Tiresias as both the greatest seer of the Classical mythos, a figure cursed by the gods, and both man and woman is seen as very useful to the authors.
posted by NoR HiDaYaH bInTI MaHiYAr at 7:21 PM
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