... of their child's blood on their hands, the Ancient Greeks preferred to dispose of an infant in this manner. Laius' action of immediately believing the prophecy and trying to avoid it, illustrates the strict belief that the Ancient Greek society had in fate. There was no questioning the authenticity of the prophecy or the fact that it would not come true. Laius, by killing his child has tried to take destiny into his own hands and avert his fate but he does not succeed, because eventually his own son does kill him. The Ancient Greeks believed that if the father abandons the son, disaster will result, which is what happens to Laius. Years later in Corinth, Oedipus the "handsome prince" of King Polybus and Queen Merope, discovers his fate. Unknown to Oedipus, he was given as a "gift" to the couple many years before, a common practice in Ancient Greek ...

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