Iokaste’s characterization of the anticipated message as a double-edged force (δύναμιν . . . διπλῆνshe message' ordinary inviduals learned to look for a d.equivalent to consultation at Delphi. speaks through ordinary inviduals she message' ordinary inviduals learned to look for a d.equivalent to consultation at Delphi. speaks through ordinary inviduals ) may seem at first to refer to the doubling of meanings to which the audience has become accustomed, but the focus is on the power behind the message rather than on its meaning. This suggests that, just it has learned to look for a second interpretation of nearly every word spoken, so it should look for an unseen power behind that which is evident. Just as the second meaning always expresses the god’s perspective, it may be expected that the second power is that of the god, too. Here the word “power,” then, suggests that the god, speaking through Iokaste, is drawing attention both to his capacity to shape the information about to be delivered as well as to his capacity to carry out what he says. If this is so, it confirms that the intervention for which Iokaste has just prayed is being delivered. Since the stranger claims to be arriving from Corinth, however, if he represents the god’s intervention, either the god had to have set his response in motion before Iokaste requested it or Iokaste’s request must itself contribute to the god’s project. The temporal and causal framework from which Apollo operates appears to be more flexible and more complex than that of mortals. [Gd] [Mi] [Apa] [D]