[987] ὀφθαλμὸς the idea is that of a bright, sudden comfort: so Soph. Trach. 203 Deianeira calls on her household to rejoice, ὡς ἄελπτον ὄμμ᾽ ἐμοὶ ι φήμης ἀνασχὸν τῆσδε νῦν καρπούμεθα （the unexpected news that Heracles has returned）. More often this image denotes the “darling” of a family （ Aesch. Lib. 934 “ὀφθαλμὸς οἴκων）,” or a dynasty that is “the light” of a land （“Σικελίας δ᾽ ἔσαν ι ὀφθαλμός,” Pind. O. 2.9: ὁ Βάττου παλαιὸς ὄλβος ... πύργος ἄστεος, ὄμμα τε φαεννότατον ι ξένοισι, Pind. P. 5.51）. Not merely （though this notion comes in） “a great help to seeing” that oracles are idle （δήλωσις ὡς τὰ μαντεύματα κακῶς ἔχει, schol.）. A certain hardness of feeling appears in the phrase: Iocasta was softened by fear for Oedipus and the State: she is now elated.
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