Conclusion: Advancing Classical Studies in the Twenty-First Century

Professor Markantonatos’ Oedipus at Colonus represents a rare synthesis of philological precision and interpretive depth. It restores Sophocles’ final tragedy to its rightful position as a culmination of Athenian thought and as a timeless meditation on suffering, reconciliation, and transcendence. Within the field of Greek tragedy, this edition sets a new standard for commentary by combining textual rigour with literary and philosophical sensitivity. It exemplifies how classical scholarship, when guided by a humanistic vision, can remain intellectually vital and culturally relevant. Beyond its immediate academic contribution, the work speaks to the enduring power of the ancient world to illuminate our present. In the closing pages of the play, Oedipus vanishes into mystery, leaving behind a blessing for those who honour him. Markantonatos’ edition performs a similar act of intellectual piety—preserving, interpreting, and transmitting that blessing to the next generation of readers and scholars.