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What rites must Odysseus perform before Tiresias will appear?

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Final answer:

Odysseus must dig a trench, pour libations, sprinkle barley, and sacrifice a ram and a black ewe to summon Tiresias in the underworld.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking about the specific rites Odysseus must perform to summon the prophet Tiresias in Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey. However, it seems there's a mix-up in the details provided. The rites required are not directly related to the plot description given that focuses on the tragedy of Oedipus Rex. In The Odyssey, to summon Tiresias in the underworld, Odysseus is instructed by Circe to perform a series of complex rites.

First, he must dig a trench and pour libations to the dead, which include milk and honey, then sweet wine, and finally, water.

After this, he must sprinkle barley and sacrifice a ram and a black ewe, letting their blood flow into the trench to attract the ghosts. Odysseus must then fend off the souls of the other dead until Tiresias appears.

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