Who is Tiresias?

Tiresias plays the role as a blind prophet of Thebes in the Sophocles’ play, “Antigone”. In this plays, his prophecy about Creon’s plan of killing Antigone will bring death of his love and blood, is rejected by a willful and proud king. In the end, Tiresias’ word comes true before Creon changes his decision that he wants to release Antigone. It is too late because Antigone kills herself, Hermon (his son) kills himself beside Antigone and Eurydice (his wife) commits suicide when she learns of Hermon’s death. Sometimes I wonder why Tiresias’ prophecy is so powerful. Who is Tiresias?
Recently I was told to read about Tiresias. But I didn’t. Later my friend told me about the origin of Tiresias. The story is unbelievable. So, I decided to search the information myself. I was shocked after reading this Greek mythology. Guess what? Tiresias is changed into woman when he separated a pair of mating snakes and hit them with a stick when he was a young man. The snakes are actually gods. The lady Tiresias is married and she even has children. Several years later, she found the mating snake again. He is asked which sexes are more pleasurable when having intercourse. She says woman. This answer causes an argument between the two snakes. The female Greek God, Hera blinds Tiresias because she says being a man is more pleasurable. As compensation, the male Greek God, Zeus gives Tiresias the gift of prophecy. This is the origin of Tiresias. Try to read yourself, you will find it is interesting and unbelievable.