Tiresias in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex is a blind prophet of Thebes who possesses the gift of foresight and divine wisdom, despite his physical blindness
. He is summoned by King Oedipus to reveal the cause of the plague devastating Thebes. Although initially reluctant to disclose the truth, Tiresias ultimately reveals that Oedipus himself is the murderer of the former king, Laius, and that Oedipus's marriage to Jocasta is incestuous
. Tiresias's blindness is symbolic: while he cannot see physically, he "sees" the truth clearly, in contrast to Oedipus, who is metaphorically blind to his own reality
. His role is crucial as the bearer of painful truths and the personification of fate—he represents the idea that certain events are predetermined and beyond human control
. Despite hostility and disbelief from Oedipus, Tiresias remains steadfast in his commitment to revealing the divine truth, which ultimately leads to Oedipus's tragic self-realization and downfall
. In Greek mythology, Tiresias is a renowned seer who lived for many generations in Thebes and was granted prophetic powers by the gods. His character also appears in other plays and myths, often serving as a messenger of divine will
. In Oedipus Rex , Tiresias's confrontation with Oedipus is a pivotal moment that sets the tragic events of the play in motion
