If the audience thought it heard the chorus of Athenians pledging to cease extorting client states, it finds now that it could not have been more wrong: the pledge is a threat, unless Apollo can demonstrate his powers, to cease going to Delphi to seek his guidance. This threat might seem out of synch to an Athenian audience that has already decided to forego a consultation with Delphi regarding its current war and plague. In its skepticicms towards Delphi Athens is a step ahead of the Theban Chorus. Athens has in fact taken its challenge a step farther—it has set itself to overturn the god’s prophesied promise to give Sparta the victory. In this determination Athens more closely resembles Laios, Iokaste, and Oidipous, all of whom have received at least one prophecy that they sought to defeat. Where the outcome of Athens’ impious endeavor is still undecided, the audience knows that Apollo has already overcome the challenge mounted by Thebes’ royal family. [P] [Mg] [Mp] [Ap]