Swearing an oath “by Olympus” intensifies the irony; the Chorus calls upon the Olympian gods to validate its present statement when in fact it, like Oidipous, takes its own wishes as if they were divine prophecy. This arrogance is both blind and impious. [Md] [P] If it were as prophetic as it would like to think, the Chorus could be expected to be saying either that it is not unaware of what has transpired or that Oidipous is not inexperienced (οὐ . . . ἀπείρων) in matters such as parricide and incest. The Chorus’s expression echoes the priest’s words near the play’s opening, when he shared his opinion that the best counsel is to be sought of those who are experienced (ἐμπείροισι; l. 44) in life’s ups and downs. As has proven to be the case, however, Oidipous even now is not able correctly to interpret his own most signal experiences even when they are laid out for him by prophecy. The populace has not been well served by the services he has performed; it was he who killed their king and polluted their city. [Mpe] [Mip] [Mw]