Oracle of Delphi

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Delphi: the Athena temple complex

The Oracle of Delphi was an institution in Ancient Greece, dedicated to the god Apollo. Only one priestess operated at Delphi at any one time, and the name given to her was 'the Pythia'. The woman gave up her own name when she became priestess.[1]

The Temple of Apollo was at Delphi, on the slopes of Mount Parnassus in Greece. According to legend, the god answered questions through the medium of the priestess, who was famous for her ambiguous predictions. Scholars from time to time have suggested that burning Oleander or volcanic gases played their part in her strange utterings.[2]

Croesus of Lydia[change | change source]

In 560 BC Croesus, King of Lydia in 580 BC,[3] went to the Delphic Oracle and the Oracle at Thebes for advice. He asked if he should make war on the Persians. Both oracles gave the same response, that if Croesus crossed the river (made war on the Persians), a mighty empire would be destroyed. They also advised him to seek out the most powerful Greek peoples and make alliance with them.[4][5][6]

Famous for ambiguity[change | change source]

An example of her ambiguity is You will go you will return never in war will you perish. This can be read with a comma either before or after the word never. Thus it covers both outcomes.

Delphi and the main Greek sanctuaries

References[change | change source]

  1. Broad, William J. 2006. The Oracle: the lost secrets and hidden message of ancient Delphi. London: Penguin. ISBN 1-59420-081-5
  2. de Boer, Jelle Zeilinga, John Rigby Hale & Henry A. Spiller, 2006. The Delphic Oracle: a multidisciplinary defense of the gaseous vent theory. Clinical Toxicology 40 (2) 189–196.
  3. Lydia: an iron age kingdom in western Asia Minor.
  4. Herodotus, "Histories" Penguin Classics, Harmondsworth.
  5. Broad, William J. 2007. The Oracle: Ancient Delphi and the science behind its lost secrets. New York: Penguin Press.
  6. Curnow T. 1995. The Oracles of the Ancient World: a comprehensive guide. London: Duckworth – ISBN 0-7156-3194-2