Teiresias
Blind Theban prophet who lived seven generations and was the only mortal to experience life as both man and woman.
The Legend of Teiresias
He lived as a woman for seven years — and when asked which sex enjoyed love more, his answer enraged Hera so much she blinded him. Teiresias stumbled upon two mating serpents on Mount Cyllene and struck them, transforming into a woman. Seven years later, she encountered the same scene, struck again, and became male. When Zeus and Hera argued about whether men or women enjoyed sex more, they asked Teiresias, the only person who knew both sides. He said women enjoyed it nine times more. Hera, furious at having her secret revealed, struck him blind. Zeus compensated him with prophetic sight and a lifespan of seven generations. He advised Cadmus, Oedipus, Creon, and even Odysseus in the Underworld.
Parents
Everes, Chariclo
Children
Manto
Symbols
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Teiresias
🗡 heroBlind prophet of Thebes
Tiresias was the blind seer of Thebes who experienced life as both man and woman, was blinded by the gods, and compensated with the gift of prophecy.
Tiresias
🗡 heroBlind prophet of Thebes
The most famous seer in Greek mythology, blinded by the gods but given the gift of prophecy in compensation. Tiresias advised kings and heroes across multiple generations.
Mopsus
🗡 heroprophecy
Son of Manto and grandson of Tiresias who defeated the great seer Calchas in a divination contest, causing Calchas to die.
Cassandra
🗡 heroprophecy
Trojan prophetess cursed by Apollo to always speak true prophecies that no one would ever believe.
Melampus
🗡 heroNone recorded
The first mortal prophet in Greek tradition who gained the ability to understand the speech of animals after serpents licked his ears clean
Manto
🗡 heroprophecy
Daughter of Tiresias and prophetess in her own right who was sent to Delphi as a war prize after Thebes fell.
Amphiaraus
🗡 heroThe prophet who foresaw his own death at Thebes
A warrior-prophet who knew the Seven Against Thebes would fail but marched to his death anyway, swallowed by the earth.
Oedipus
🗡 heroKing who fulfilled the prophecy of killing his father and marrying his mother
The tragic king of Thebes who unknowingly killed his father and married his mother, fulfilling a prophecy he had spent his life trying to avoid.
Calchas
🗡 heroprophecy
Chief seer of the Greek army at Troy who interpreted omens, demanded Iphigenia's sacrifice, and foretold the war's length.
Halitherses
🗡 heroNone recorded
Elderly Ithacan prophet who interpreted bird omens and supported Telemachus
Phineus
🗡 heroprophecy, punishment
A blind Thracian king and prophet punished by Zeus for revealing divine secrets, tormented by Harpies until rescued by the Argonauts.
Amphiaraus
🗡 heroSeer-warrior swallowed by earth
Amphiaraus was a warrior-prophet who foresaw his death in the Seven Against Thebes but marched anyway, bound by his wife's betrayal.