ἀνακούφισις (literally: “getting the head up”) echoes the priest’s word ἀνακουφίσαι (l. 23) and the metaphor contrasting the city standing erect on its feet (ll. 39, 46, 50, and 51) with one reeling, drowning (l. 23) or fallen (l. 50). Like a stricken individual, the city is now down, as perhaps reflected in the posture of the suppliants onstage at the play’s opening. Oidipous is promising to return it to life, yet the words he employs reveal a misprision of the situation, for the plague is beyond his reach. If the people are to be saved, it will be through divine action to which Oidipous can only submit himself as a servant. [Mpea] [Mp] [Ap] [P]