A play, part tragedy and part romantic comedy of fortune, set at the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi. Ion, a young temple servant who does not know his parents, meets Creusa, an Athenian queen who has come to the oracle with her husband seeking children. Questions of identity, hidden family history and the trustworthiness of the gods drive the action. The play is notable for its tense, ironic plot and for its sceptical look at Apollo, as well as its link to Athenian origins.