Plague or affliction (νόσημα) has reduced Oidipous to the same point of helplessness as the citizens of both disease-ridden Thebes and Athens. The apparent difference is that Oidipous’s affliction is mental, moral, and spiritual rather than corporeal, although his self-blinding has given it a physical aspect. This may suggest to the audience that the plague to which Athens is subject also has a moral and spiritual cause. [Mw] [Aj] [P]