In light of these words the audience will see that Oidipous has in fact for years been captive to the fear of “whoever” said something touching his fears, especially the Pythia when said that he would kill his father and marry his mother. So, when Iokaste says, εἰ φόβους λέγοι (“if he say things to be feared”), the audience might hear, εἰ Φοῖβος λέγει—“whenever Phoibos speaks.” Fear of Phoibos’ speech has indeed been a driving motive not only for Oidipous, but also for Laios and Iokaste, who went so far as to order the killing of their infant son out of fear that the son would kill Laios. Considering that Athens is presently determined to challenge the power of the god’s prophetic word, the play’s audience may be prompted to consider that it too is now held in thrall to its fear of the god’s oracular speech. The city’s response, then, insofar as it is comparable to that of Laios, Iokaste, and Oidipous, is irrational and bound to bring about precisely the result it most fears. This suggests that even when the god prophesies things terrible to endure, neither fear-induced panic nor a determination to resist is a reasonable response. Athens’ first task is to acknowledge its own fears, to refuse to let them drive its decisions, and so to resist its inclination to oppose the god. [Md] [Mp] [P] [Mw]