δι᾽ ὁσίων χειρῶν, i.e. after duly washing the hands before entering the sacred precinct. Blood-guilt is not thought of here: if that was in question, “καθαρμοὶ χοιροκτόνοι” (Aesch. Eum. 283) would first be needed for Oed. himself: but the Chorus assume that, as he said, he is now “εὐσεβής” (287). Washings, or sprinklings, were required before approaching shrines, and for this purpose “περιρραντήρια” were set at the entrances of sacred places. Cp. Hippocr. Morb. Sacr. 2 “ὅρους τοῖσι θεοῖσι τῶν ἱερῶν καὶ τῶν τεμενέων ἀποδεικνύμενοι, ὡς ἂν μηδεὶς ὑπερβαίνοι εἰ μὴ ἁγνεύοι, εἰσιόντες δὲ περιρραινόμεθα, οὐχ ὡς μιαινόμενοι, ἀλλ᾽ εἴ τι καὶ πρότερον ἔχομεν μύσος, τοῦτο ἀφαγνιούμενοι”. Lucian Sacrific. 13 “τὸ μὲν πρόγραμμά φησι μὴ παριέναι εἴσω τῶν περιρραντηρίων ὅστις μὴ καθαρός ἐστι τὰς χεῖρας”. So
.“ἀλλ᾽ ὑδρηναμένη, καθαρὰ χροῒ εἵματ᾽ ἔχουσα, …
εὔχε᾽ Ἀθηναίῃ
”