Scaife ATLAS

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Commentary on Sophocles: Oedipus Tyrannus by Sir Richard C. Jebb

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Text

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0011.tlg004.perseus-grc2:38
οὐδʼ ἐκδιδαχθείς, ἀλλὰ προσθήκῃ θεοῦ

Commentary

urn:cts:greekLit:viaf2603144.viaf001.perseus-eng1:30

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0011.tlg004:38

προσθήκῃ θεοῦ “by the aid of a god.” Dem. 25.24 ἡ εὐταξία τῇ τῶν νόμων προσθήκῃ τῶν αἰσχρῶν περίεστι, “discipline, with the support of the laws, prevails against villainy.” Dion. Hal. 5.67 προσθήκης μοῖραν ἐπεῖχον οὗτοι τοῖς ἐν φάλαγγι τεταγμένοις, “these served as supports to the main body of the troops.” προστίθεσθαί τινι, to take his side: Thuc. 6.80 τοῖς ἀδικουμένοις … προσθεμένους : so Soph. OC 1332 οἷς ἂν σὺ προσθῇ. (The noun προσθήκη does not occur as = “mandate,” though Hdt. 3.62 has τό τοι προσέθηκα πρῆγμα.) The word is appropriate, since the achievement of Oed. is viewed as essentially a triumph of human wit: a divine agency prompted him, but remained in the background.

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