Editing Ismene (section)

==== Oedipus at Colonus ====
Ismene appears in [[Oedipus at Colonus]] to tell her father of the situation in Thebes and the rivalry of his sons. She explains that Eteocles has taken the throne from Polynices and driven him out of the city. As a result of this, Polynices gathered his own army to either take back the city "or to die there with honor." According to the Oracle of Delphi, the location where Oedipus is buried will determine the result of the war between the brothers. Ismene tells her father that Creon plans to have him buried on the border of Thebes so that they will have the desirable outcome. Hearing this, Oedipus curses his sons and refuses to leave Colonus.

[[Greek chorus|The chorus]] (in this play the elders of Colonus) tell him that because he has walked on the sacred ground of the [[Erinyes|Eumenides]], he has to "perform rites of purification." Due to his blindness and age, Oedipus is unable to fulfill this task and asks one of his daughters to instead. Ismene agrees and exits to do so.

Later in the play, in an attempt to force Oedipus to return to [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]], Creon tells him that he has seized Ismene and takes Antigone away as well. However, [[Theseus]] and the Athenians overpower them and exit to free the girls.

Ismene appears again at the end of the play with her sister as they mourn the death of their father and lament that they cannot join him. Theseus tells them that Oedipus has been buried but the location is secret and he has forbidden that they be told of it. Antigone resolves to return to Thebes, and Ismene goes with her.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=The Theban plays : Oedipus the king, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone|last=Sophocles.|date=2009|publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press|others=Fainlight, Ruth., Littman, Robert J., 1943-|isbn=9780801895418|location=Baltimore|oclc=608624785}}</ref>