The story of Oedipus the king was written by Sophocles. When Oedipus solves the riddle of the Sphinx and becomes king of Thebes, the city is cursed by the gods for the murder of the previous king Laius. In attempting to solve the mystery of who killed Laius and absolve Thebes, Oedipus discovers he killed Laius, his father, and that he had married his mother Jocasta, the wife of Laius. Afterwards, Jocasta hangs herself, and Oedipus takes his own sight.