Why is Oedipus the current king of Thebes?

Oedipus was a Greek mythical character who was known to fulfill a prophecy of killing his father and marrying is mother.  The story started when Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes consulted the God of Son of their being childless after marrying for some time.  A prophecy was made that if they will ever bear a child, this son will kill his father and marry his mother.  When they bore a child, the couple abandoned him because they were afraid that the prophecy will indeed come true.

The servant who was responsible to bring the child to the mountains, pitied the baby so he passed him to another shepherd which eventually reached to the king and queen of Corinth, Polybus and Merope.  Oedipus was the name given to the baby because of the swelling in his ankle which was caused by his real father before he was abandoned.

Years passed, Oedipu knew the truth that Polybus and Merope were not his parents.  Oedipus sought for the truth but his foster parents will not tell him anything.  Oedipus then asked for Oracle’s guidance.  He was told of the same prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother.  Frightened that the prophecy might come true, he went away from Corinth and decided to go to Thebes.

In his way to Thebes, he fought a chariot killed by his real father.  Oedipus killed Laius and the first prophecy came true. When he was getting nearer at Thebes, he encountered a Sphinx that kills somebody if that person who attempts to enter Thebes could not answer a riddle.  Oedipus answered the riddle and the Sphinx killed itself and freed Thebes.  Because of what happened, the people proclaimed Oedipus as the King of Thebes and fulfilled the second prophecy by marrying the queen, his mother.

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