The call to row against the plague styles Oidipous the captain of a trireme and plague as an opposing navy. He casts his view of the solution to Thebes’ pollution as a naval action, an arena in which Athens is preeminent, and so the audience might recognize an analogy between the Theban plague and the Peloponnesian War. Plague is not, however, mortal; it is not a matter to be dealt with by triremes or their admirals, nor is the appropriate solution to plague likely to depend upon obedience to military leaders. Arrogating to its military preparedness a capacity to which it has no legitimate claim, Athens’ leadership not only demonstrates its inadequacy to meet the present crisis, by foolishly pitting its own mortal forces against divine powers it justifies and even invites a punitive strike. [Mp] [Mpea] [Ap] [Aj] [P]