When the priest suggests that Oidipous could only have succeeded with a god’s aid, this is an inference based on his knowledge that Oidipous received no human assistance and his belief that the problem could not be solved without some form of help. If the audience wishes to believe that Oidipous was able to solve the problem without the aid of either men or gods, it will ascribe to him god-like powers. The audience embraces the idea that a human ruler can and must be prepared to solve problems previously thought impossible for any but a god. [P] [Mp]