Who was Teiresias

The fabled Greek soothsayer Teiresias was blind. The fact that Classical writers report several different legends about how he lost his sight would seem to indicate the reason for his affliction was not the most important aspect of his blindness. The essential message of the legends is that Teiresias had seen and knew too much...

After all even after he lost his sight, Teiresias still saw and knew more than anyone else. He was the most respected of Greek soothsayers and even kings came to ask his advice. As a result of the well-known Sophoclean tragedy, the Theban king Oedipus became the most famous of the mighty to turn to Teiresias for help in his time of need. The founders of the Teiresias Centre have chosen the words of Oedipus from this play as their motto:

ὦ πάντα νομῶν Τειρεσία, διδακτά τε
ἄρρητά τ' οὐράνιά τε καὶ χθονοστιβῆ,
πόλιν μέν, εἰ καὶ μὴ βλέπεις, φρονεῖς δ' ὅμως...
...ἐν σοὶ γὰρ ἐσμέν· ἄνδρα δ' ὠφελεῖν ἀφ' ὧν
ἔχοι τε καὶ δύναιτο κάλλιστος πόνων.
(Sof. Král Oidipús, 300–303, 314n.)

Teiresias, seer who comprehendest all,
Lore of the wise and hidden mysteries,
High things of heaven and low things of the earth,
Thou knowest, though thy blinded eyes see naught...
...On thee we rest. This is man's highest end, To others' service all his powers to lend.