ἀλκάν, the final word in this antistrophe, repeats the word used by the priest (line 42) when he called upon Oidipous to provide a defense against the city’s present calamity. In the Iliad, ἀλκή means military protection afforded by a champion or hero, much as the priest earlier used the term to seek Oidipous’s help in combating the plague, but now the Chorus turns to Athena for that kind of help. This juxtaposition implicitly raises the question, whether it is better to seek assistance in dealing with plague from men or gods. Given the possibility that Oidipous may be responsible for the plague in Thebes, the audience must now consider that prayerful imprecation of a god may be the wiser choice; the gods who bring plague can remove it. Since, however, they bring plague to achieve a specific end, to effect justice, they can be expected to remove the plague only when their greater purpose has been satisfied. This satisfaction requires mortal action directed by a god. It is not, then, a simple matter of the city’s deciding between mortal and immortal saviors; the key to mortal wellbeing lies in commitment to action in accordance with divine guidance. [Mp] [Ap] [Mi]