尤里匹底斯(Euripides)的《伊翁》(Ion)其背景點明了雅典 與其他希臘國家的血緣關係，更進一步肯定「自由言論」 (pairhesia ;另譯「直言無畏」）的活動已由阿波羅的殿中轉往雅 典公民的身上。傅柯(Michel Foucault)在他的《傅柯說真話》中指出「自由言論」可視爲尤里匹底斯的《伊 翁》一劇中的主題(motif)，從劇中人物與諸神的權力關係中， 足以引發出一連串對於自由言論的討論：誰有權力、勇氣說真 話？而說真話的自由與權力的關係爲何？細究此劇，我們不難 發現構成《伊翁》一劇的兩大主軸，其實是欺瞞與真相。阿波 羅試圖掩飾當初的罪行，不直接面對克蕾烏莎(Creusa)的控 訴，反將伊翁許給克蘇托斯(Xuthus)爲子；而克蘇托斯爲了迎 接伊翁，刻意欺騙自己的妻子克蕾烏莎，差點引發家庭革命。 克蕾烏莎的屈辱和伊翁的真實身份，最後透過由雅典娜當說客 而得到證實，並母子相認。値得注意的是伊翁真正的父親一阿 波羅，雖然一手主導帶領伊翁認祖歸宗，卻在劇中保持沉默， 並未真正現身在任何劇場行動(action)中，更加證明說真話 (tmth-revealing)這樣的行動與自由，已由神權移轉爲人權，阿 波羅所代表的神諭及揭示真相的功能已喪失，真相是由人類本 身透露給人類。《伊翁》中的神已喪失其權威與真理的面向，取 而代之的是人類爲自己爭取權利，並勇於挑戰有瑕疵的神權， 此舉正是民主制度具體而微的縮影。

Jon, written by Euripides, whose background unfolds the relations between Athens and other Greek nations, asserts that the right to exercising parrhesia (i.e. free speech and truth-telling) has been transferred from oracle-revealing in Delphi to the citizens of Athens. Michel Foucault states that parrhesia is the motif of Jon in his Fearless Speech, from which we could understand the meaning of parrhesia and how parrhesia has been exercised. Analyzing the political relations among the human characters and gods in this play, we may ask a series questions concerning parrhesia: who has the right to tell the truth? What does the freedom of speech have anything to do with power? Actually, two maJor topics m Jon are deception and truth-revealing. Being reluctant to confront Creusa' s accusation against him, Apollo tries to cover his sin, and further lies about Ion's identity and gives him to Xu thus as a gift. Xu thus, meanwhile, would like to keep Ion's identity secret from Creusa, which irritates Creusa greatly and then initiates her plan to kill Ion. Eventually, Athene comes to reveal the truth, and leads to the recognition between mother and son. However, the cause of these series of family tragedies, Apollo, remains silent and hidden throughout. Apollo's silence exemplifies as a corrupt power, whose function to reveal truth and give prophecies to humans has already failed. Furthermore, the right to truth-telling has no longer been centered in the power of gods, but the power of humans. In Ion, we see humans seek for their own right to learn and reveal the truth, and challenge the defective power, which just miniatures the basic form of democracy.