The great blind prophet of Apollo in Thebes. He lived through seven generations and witnessed all the tragedies of the house of Cadmus.1
Son of Everes and the nymph Chariclo, Tiresias was blinded by the gods. Some say he saw Athena naked, while others claim he was blinded by Hera after arguing that women enjoy love more than men. In compensation, Zeus gave him the gift of prophecy and a long life spanning seven generations.2
He served as the spiritual guide to Thebes through its most turbulent times. He predicted the greatness of Heracles, revealed the truth of Oedipus' incest, and advised the sacrifice of Menoeceus during the war of the Seven.3
Even in death, he retained his prophetic powers in the Underworld, where he counseled Odysseus on how to safely return to Ithaca.4
Apollodorus says that after the slaughter of the suitors, Odysseus sacrificed to Hades, Persephone, and Tiresias himself, then journeyed on foot through Epirus to the Thesprotians and offered further sacrifice according to the soothsayer's directions to propitiate Poseidon — fulfilling the counsel the seer had given in the house of Hades.5⚖
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the spine ignites as you read · hover a bond on the card — every mention of them lights in the story