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At the Oracle of Delphi, Apollo’s mysterious priestess, the Pythia, conveyed the god’s prophecies. Here are five fascinating oracular statements which helped to shape ancient Greek civilization.
The landscape of ancient Greece was scattered with religious sites and sanctuaries, some of which were also home to oracles. Each oracle was associated with a particular deity. Zeus, the king of the gods, had oracular sanctuaries at both Olympia and Dodona. However, the most important oracle throughout Greek history was the Oracle of Delphi. Here the divine wisdom and prophecies of the god Apollo were conveyed by the mysterious priestess, the Pythia. People would visit Delphi from across Greece and beyond in the hope of receiving the words of Apollo.
Interpreting The Oracle Of Delphi
A stele inscription dedicated to Plutarch by the people of Delphi, around 100 AD, in the Archaeological Museum of Delphi
The form of Apollo’s responses, via the Pythia, is one of the most hotly debated topics for scholars of Delphi. Plutarch was a 1st-century AD philosopher and also a priest of Apollo at Delphi. He tells us that responses from the Pythia were famously ambiguous in Delphi’s heyday. Some describe her words as riddles that needed to be interpreted by the recipients. Others refer to them as a form of hexameter poetry.
Some scholars believe that priests, who worked alongside the Pythia, helped in the process of interpretation. But this cannot be definitively proved. It is also unclear whether responses were written down and then passed to the recipients for them to interpret. What is clear is that, in its ambiguity, the Oracle was highlighting the fact that divine words were inherently unintelligible to mortals. They could not be received directly, divine wisdom needed to be carefully interpreted first.
Marble bust of Herodotus, 2nd century AD, via The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Throughout Delphi’s history, there were many who fell foul of the Oracle’s ambiguity. Herodotus, writing The Histories in the 5th century BC, chronicles some fascinating episodes of misinterpretation at Delphi. Perhaps the most famous of them all involves Croesus, the incredibly wealthy king of Lydia.
Croesus tried to test Delphi’s Oracle by asking it to say what he was doing at a particular point in time back in Lydia. The Oracle correctly replied that Croesus was cutting up a tortoise and a lamb and then placing them in a bronze cauldron. Emboldened by this accuracy, Croesus then asked the Oracle if he would be successful in a war campaign against Persia. The Oracle replied that Croesus would ‘destroy a great empire.’ Arrogantly, Croesus assumed that this meant he would succeed. He failed to realize that this great empire was actually his own and he soon became enslaved by the Persians.
By dealing with arrogant individuals in this way, no matter how important they were, the Oracle asserted its power. The examples of the likes of Croesus served as a warning to others. The Oracle of Delphi did not take well to manipulation and careless interpretation.
In the Series
Much like how the gods would move with Western Civilization, so did the spirit of the Oracle. Human maidens who had the gift of clear sight could inherit the power and pass it on to another when the time came. Right before the start of World War II, the current Oracle had given the first Great Prophecy, claiming that a child of Zeus, Poseidon, or Hades would have to make a choice that would preserve or raze Olympus. Not wanting to take any chances, Zeus ordered that Hades' two children, Bianca and Nico di Angelo, be sent to Camp Half-Blood to be trained. Hearing of this, the Oracle advised Hades to hide his children quickly.
4. Athens and the Persian Wars: A Case of Careful Interpretation
Many oracular statements from Delphi were ambiguous in tone and content. Some scholars believe that this is because the word of a god was not meant to be understood directly by mere mortals. Human knowledge and understanding were limited in comparison to divine wisdom. Therefore careful interpretation was necessary.
A prime example of this was a statement given to an Athenian delegation shortly before the Persian invasion of southern Greece in 480 BCE, led by King Xerxes I. The Athenian contingent of the allied Greek forces was anxious for advice from the oracle about the war’s outcome.
First, the Pythia told them unequivocally to retreat and escape while they still could. The Athenians were appalled by this and consulted again. This time the response was longer and more complex. Two lines stood out in particular:
‘Far-seeing Zeus gives you … a wall of wood.
Only this will stand intact and help you and your children.’
Herodotus, The Histories, 7.141
The Battle of Salamis, Wilhelm von Kaulbach, 1868, The Maximilianeum of the State Parliament of Bavaria
This vague reference to ‘a wall of wood’ caused much confusion when the embassy returned to Athens. Some believed this meant the wooden stockade surrounding the Acropolis. Others believed the phrase referred to wooden trireme ships and that they should build up their fleet and engage at sea.
In the end, it was the latter that held true. The Athenians readied their ships and managed to defeat the Persians in the sea battle of Salamis later in 480 BC. This event marked the beginning of the Persian withdrawal from Greece and the return of freedom to the Greek world. The oracular statement from Delphi was crucial to the Greeks’ success. Equally important was the careful consideration and interpretation of the divine words of Apollo.
Ancient Greece
Leto, Phoebe's daughter, came looking for a place to give birth after Hera cursed her, but Python chased her out. When Leto gave birth to Apollo and Artemis on Delos, Apollo decided to kill Python for what he did to his mother. He was successful and threw the snake's body into a fissure to let its corpse rot and smell. Eventually, Apollo took over the Oracle and welcomed the priest and pilgrims back. A priestess referred to as the Pythia, named after Python, stood on a tripod stool next to one of the fissures that spewed gas and would always get riddles from Apollo. The spirit of the Oracle of Delphi was eventually passed on from maiden to maiden to continue to speak the prophecies. The Delphic Oracle was one of three priestess who served at the Temple in Delphi. Priests and priestesses at an Oracle spoke on behalf of the gods. The advice from the gods was usually so vague that it always seemed to be right. People would come from all over to ask the Oracle for her wisdom about important matters of public policy to personal affairs. The Oracle would be consulted before any kind of important decision, including war or the founding of colonies. Other people from as far as Lydia, Caria, Rome, and even Egypt would send a representative to consult the Oracle.
The Blood of Olympus
After Gaea's forces took Delphi, the Oracle stopped working and Apollo and his children weren't able to foresee anything. At the senior meeting in Camp Half Blood, Clarisse La Rue blames Rachel Elizabeth Dare for not foreseeing the Romans gathering reinforcements. Rachel protests that she doesn't know what is going on in Delphi and if she could, she would stop it. Will Solace then agrees with her and tells Clarisse that his dad hasn't answered his prayers either and that although all gods have been silent lately, that this was not like Apollo to not answer his children and he didn't know what was going on at Delphi.
Apollo confirmed that he does not have absolute control over the Oracle or its prophecies. He oversees the Oracle, but does not always understand what the prophecy means nor does he always control when it is spoken. Prophecies are sometimes spoken whether or not Apollo wills it or even against his will.
Why Was the Oracle at Delphi Important?
Oracles were important to the Greeks because of their belief that the gods communicated with people directly through mediums. Based on Greek religion, the bodies of the oracles served as vessels that gods could possess to give humans advice or relay the outcome of a war or someone’s fate. The oracles at Delphi specifically channeled the god Apollo.
As the center of the world, the Delphi sanctuary was also integral to Greek religion. Their mythology tells us that long before Apollo came along, the beloved and all-powerful Zeus, the Father God of the ancient Greeks, released two eagles from the edge of the world to find the middle. After flying for a long time, the eagles crossed paths at Delphi. The Greeks dedicated the place with an omphalos, which means navel, in the form of a big rock carved in decorative motifs.
The Omphalos was an important symbol of Apollo and represented the ‘navel’ of the ancient Greek world. CC3.0 Modified.
An entire settlement developed around the sacred site at Delphi. Besides the Temple of Apollo, there was a sanctuary of Athena, a theater, an athletic arena, cemeteries, and treasuries that held valuable votives and the rich spoils of wars. The Sacred Way path connected everything at Delphi. However, by far, it was the prophetesses that made the site famous. (History).
Percy Jackson's Greek Gods
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The process of consultation was elaborate and limited. Access to the Oracle of Delphi was granted only once a month for nine months of the year. It was believed that Apollo spent the winter months in warmer climes. This meant that there were only nine available days per year. Anyone could visit the Pythia, but there was a hierarchy depending on where you came from. Visitors ranged from private individuals to city-state representatives and wealthy, exotic kings. But, in seeking the word of Apollo, all mortals were equal.
The Lightning Thief
The Oracle of Delphi in the coloring book,
The Oracle of Delphi first appeared when Percy Jackson was told by Chiron to get a prophecy so he could go on a quest. Luke explained that there hadn't been a quest since his own quest two years ago failed. The Oracle had also told Chiron that Annabeth couldn't go on a quest until someone special arrived, leading Annabeth to think anyone new to camp could be the omen she had been waiting for.
The Oracle issuing a prophecy in the Graphic Novel
Chiron told Percy to go get a prophecy from the Oracle as events were starting to become clear to him after he learned of Percy's parentage. Percy climbed to the Big House Attic and found the decomposing corpse of the long dead Oracle. However, when he asked her what was his destiny, the Oracle began to come to life and showed a vision of Gabe Ugliano and his friends playing poker as she spoke of a prophecy telling him to go west and face the god who has turned. While the last line of the prophecy made it sound like Percy would fail, Chiron told him prophecies usually had double meanings and to not dwell on them too much. As events unfold, Percy regularly looked back on the words of the Oracle as the events she spoke of began to pass.
Consultations With Apollo At Delphi
Clearly, the greatest attraction of Delphi was the fact that it offered access, albeit indirectly, to the god Apollo. The Homeric Hymn to Apollo, written around the 7th century BC, offers an explanation for Apollo’s connection with Delphi. In his search for a location for his oracle, he eventually decided on Delphi due to the beauty of its position. But first, he had to defeat a monstrous dragon who lived nearby. After killing the dragon with his arrows, its body rotted in the scorching sun. The Greek for ‘to rot’ is pythein and this is thought to be the origin of the Pythia’s name. Delphi itself was formerly known as Pytho in the Bronze Age.
But there are also different versions of the story. Alcaeus, a 7th-century BC lyric poet, tells of how Zeus ordered Apollo to set up an oracle at Delphi. Different again is Aeschylus’ version, who in his tragic play Eumenides explains that Apollo received Delphi in succession from Gaia.
The stories may vary but the endpoint of each version is the establishment of a place of prophecy at Delphi. Apollo is well-known as the Greek god of prophecy, with the ability to see into the future. However, it is perhaps more accurate to describe the consultations at Delphi as the imparting of divine advice.
Consultants visited Delphi with requests as individuals and also on behalf of entire city-states. The most common requests for help from individuals involved personal questions, such as those regarding marriage and job prospects. Sometimes they wanted to know if they should embark on a long and dangerous journey. Requests for remedies for disease and illness were also common.
Consultants who visited the Oracle of Delphi on behalf of their city were often seeking advice about serious disputes between communities. Cities also wanted to know if Delphi would look kindly upon their development of colonies abroad. Delphi’s own rise, particularly in the 6th century BC, coincided with the rise of democracy and the growth of urban areas across Greece. One of Delphi’s most important strengths was its ability to help to establish law and order. In this way, the Oracle of Delphi became a major power-player in the development of the Greek world.
“I know the number of grains of sand and the extent of the sea;
Origins
Originally, Delphi was a spring that whispered the future to those who listen. The Greeks called it omphalos, meaning navel of the world since it was at the geographic center. Gaea was the first goddess to possess the Oracle of Delphi. Her daughter, the Titaness Phoebe, lived there and was the first to figure out how to hear the voices.
Rhea tries to talk with the Oracle of Delphi when her sister Phoebe had control over it, wanting to save her last child from being eating by Kronos. However, Phoebe had no advice to give her sister. Her sister Themis, her niece Demeter, and her nephew Poseidon were eventually worshiped in Delphi for many years.
Mortals Deucalion and Pyrrha encountered The Oracle of Delphi during the flood Zeus caused to punish mankind. The Oracle tells them: "When you leave this place, cover your heads and throw the bones of your mother behind as you go, and do not look back." Shortly afterwards, Gaea gave birth to Python to guard the cave.
Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes
The Oracle appears in several chapters of Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes. There is a running gag in the book where she will end by saying "Thank you for your offering. Have a nice day".
- The Oracle first appears when Acrisius asked why he couldn't have a son, she easily answers that it is because the son of Danaë, his daughter, will kill him and take his place as king.
- The Oracle tells Psyche's father that she will marry a hideous monster and she must be placed on a high cliff.
- When King Aegeus asked whether or not he can have a son, the Oracle told him to be patient. He must avoid all women until he reaches Athens, his son will arrive on his own will.
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learns from the Oracle that her unavoidable marriage of a man will cause her to lose her identity. By the same time, her father learns about her daughter's identity from the Oracle.
- The Oracle tells Hercules that he must accomplish Eurystheus' labors to redeem himself for killing his family.
- When Pelias is told to beware a man with one shoe, he ran out of the cave before the Oracle could wish him a nice day.
The Sea of Monsters
While the Oracle doesn't appear, Clarisse La Rue is allowed to be given a prophecy by the current head of the camp, Tantalus. This is most likely, because Annabeth Chase and Percy devised the plan for a quest, and Chiron had been fired. Clarisse is given a quest to search for the Golden Fleece located in the Sea of Monsters.
The Son of Neptune
Percy asked Octavian if Camp Jupiter had an Oracle to give them prophecies. Octavian sarcastically said they were fresh out of Oracles and that it was a "cute idea" because the Romans use Auguries .
The Lost Hero
A new demigod named Jason Grace appears at camp, along with two others named Piper McLean and Leo Valdez. During the campfire, several campers asked Rachel, the new Oracle, if the events of the Prophecy of Seven were coming to pass. She says they are and began to repeat the prophecy, only for Jason to finish it in Latin, much to everyone's surprise. Rachel then began to speak a new prophecy to Jason, telling him to go and rescue Hera from a cage. After this, Rachel collapses, but a team that seemed to be prepared for this places a seat under her before she hits the ground.
The Hidden Oracle
While in the Labyrinth for the Three-Legged Death Race, Apollo and Meg McCaffrey wind up under Delphi and overhear a conversation between The Beast and Python about the serpent keeping the Oracle from seeing the future.
1. Lycurgus of Sparta: A Most Unusual Consultation
A marble portrait bust of Lycurgus (a Roman copy of a Greek original), early 2nd century AD, via Museo del Prado, Madrid
Lycurgus holds a special place in the history of ancient Greek civilization as the reformer of the Spartan state. He lived in the 8th century BCE, but few concrete details are known about his life. His visit to the Oracle of Delphi is one of the earliest and strangest on record. The historian Herodotus gives an account of the episode, written three centuries later. No tangible context is given for Lycurgus’ consultation and the words of the Pythia are highly unusual:
‘Lycurgus, here you are. You have come to my rich temple,
Beloved of Zeus and all who dwell on Olympus.
Should I address you, in my prophecy, as a god or as a man?
I think it would be better to call you a god, Lycurgus’
Herodotus, The Histories, 1.65
The Spartans believed that after this statement the Pythia gave instructions for how to reform Sparta and turn it into a great and powerful state. Lycurgus is said to have used this advice to make fundamental changes to Spartan society. He adapted every part of life, from education to marriage, with the sole focus of creating a military state populated by outstanding warriors.
This was a remarkable episode in the history of the Oracle of Delphi. The Pythia explicitly addresses Lycurgus as a god. This level of deference is virtually unique in oracular statements and suggests that Lycurgus is equal to Apollo himself. This unusual meeting also marked a turning point in Spartan history. It paved the way for Sparta to become one of the greatest city-states in ancient Greece and gave Lycurgus almost mythical status.
The End of Apollo
Thanks to the Oracle of Delphi, the sanctuary became steeped in power, fame, and wealth. Although it had become an independent Greek entity, many groups desired control of Delphi. Thus, from the fifth century BCE until the first century BCE, various groups battled for control of the site. Finally, in 191 BCE, the Romans took Delphi and held it for nearly 600 years. However, in 392 CE, Roman Emperor Theodosius banned all pagan worship across the empire, and the Romans shut down and destroyed the sanctuary. In her final words as the Delphic Oracle, the Pythia uttered, “All is ended.”
Additional references:
Hoyle, Peter. Delphi. London: Cassell, 1967.
Klimo, Jon. Channeling: Investigations on Receiving Information from Paranormal Sources. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books, 1998.
Spiller, Henry, Jella de Boer, John R Hale, and Jeffrey Chanton. “Gaseous Emissions at the Site of the Delphic Oracle: Assessing the Ancient Evidence.” Taylor & Francis. Accessed February 27, 2020.
Struck, Peter. “Delphic Oracle.” Greek & Roman Mythology – Tools.
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The Sea of Monsters
The Oracle as she appears in the film.
Despite not appearing in the initial movie, the Oracle appears in the second installment of the Percy Jackson film series. She shows Percy the story of Kronos and sends him on his quest.
The Oracle of Delphi was an important Greek priestess and soothsayer who practiced divination in the Temple of Apollo at the ancient sanctuary of Delphi on Mount Parnassus. Also known as the Pythia, the oracle was a real woman carefully selected by the priests of the sanctuary. When one Pythia died, another one took her place as the high priestess. Sometimes high on botanical plants or toxic fumes that rose from the earth, the oracle entered a divine trance and channeled the god Apollo to foretell the future. Although there were other oracles around the world, the Pythia of Delphi was the most legitimate.
After a Pythia or prophetess died, the priests would select another to become the new Oracle of Delphi.
Contents
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
The Titan's Curse
When Percy returns to Camp Half-Blood after Annabeth had been captured by the manticore, he confronted the Oracle and asked her to give him a prophecy to allow him to find Annabeth. When she remained unmoving, Percy became angry, saying he would find a way to save her himself.
After a game of Capture the Flag between the campers of Camp Half-Blood and the Hunters of Artemis, a fight began between Thalia Grace and Percy. Before things could escalate any more, Percy calls off his attack when he sees the Oracle walking toward one of the Hunters, Zoë Nightshade. She gives the girl a prophecy in the vision of her maiden, Artemis, chained to rocks to find her and that she will only succeed if hunters and campers work together. After the Oracle became still once again, Grover and Percy were elected to carry her back to the attic. (Percy mentions "that probably doesn't mean they are the most popular.") Percy knocks her head, climbing the stairs back up to the attic and checks for broken bones.
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How Did the Oracle of Delphi Work?
Sacrifices were offered by the supplicants, adorned with laurel crowns and fillets of wool. Having prepared herself by washing and purification, the Pythia entered the sanctuary, with gold ornaments in her hair, and flowing robes upon her; she drank of the water of the fountain Cassotis, which flowed into the shrine, tasted the fruit of the old bay tree standing in the chamber, and took her seat.
A prophetess at Delphi conducted certain physical and spiritual rituals to prepare for Apollo to possess her. Purification of her body was essential. Thus, she fasted before the days of divination and abstained from sexual activity. On the day of her oracular session, she washed in the sacred Castalian Spring and put on special clothing.
The sacrifice of a goat or sheep ensured that the gods looked upon her favorably. The southwest corner of the temple of Apollo held a special room called the adyton, which sat below the floor of the temple and was accessible by a set of stairs. Bay leaves (laurel) were a sacred symbol of Apollo and hung in the room and also burned as incense. The seer sat on a gilded wooden tripod placed over an opening in the ground from which fumes rose. Not far from the oracle sat the omphalos stone representing the center of the world. The Pythia began by inducing her divine trance.
Oracle Of Delphi: Center Of The Ancient World
The Last Olympian
Rachel, the current Oracle
When Percy returned to camp after spending some time with Poseidon in Atlantis, he gave Chiron the message that he was ready for the Great Prophecy. Annabeth Chase and Percy went up to the attic and Percy questioned why she was dead. Annabeth however held herself back and asked the Oracle for the Great Prophecy. Percy expected something amazing to happen, but instead Annabeth grabbed a small scroll from around her necklace.
During the events of the Battle of Manhattan, the powers of the Oracle called out to Rachel Elizabeth Dare, a mortal who could see through the Mist and who had helped Percy and Annabeth in the Labyrinth. She began having visions of the battle and flew to New York City during the battle to tell Percy he was not the hero of the Great Prophecy. She also has a vision about a drakon, saying that it was its destiny to only be killed by a child of Ares.
Percy has several visions of the Oracle in the past, seeing how the spirit was trapped in her current body forever. He was also shown a vision of when May Castellan tried to take in the spirit, only for her to go insane when Nico had taken him to see her earlier before the battle. This curse is because of Hades, who had said, "I swear, as long as my children remain outcasts, as long as I labor under the curse of your Great Prophecy, the Oracle of Delphi will never have another mortal host. You will never rest in peace. No other will take your place. Your body will wither and die, and still the Oracle's spirit will be locked inside you. You will speak your bitter prophecies until you crumble to nothing. The Oracle will die with you!"
While Rachel talks to Hestia, Rachel finally understands her visions and had decided to become the new Oracle, making her unable to date and so she dumped Percy (even though they had never actually dated). After the battle, Rachel takes Percy's pegasus, Blackjack, back to Camp Half-Blood and takes on the spirit of the Oracle successfully. She then began to speak the next The Heroes of Olympus
World War II
Already mistrusting of his brother, Hades asked his lover Maria di Angelo to follow him into the Underworld where he could protect their children and told her that there wasn't much time as Zeus' deadline had already passed a week ago. However, Maria didn't believe the gods would be so cruel as to kill them and went upstairs to grab her purse. At that moment, Zeus sent down a bolt of lightning to kill the children. Hades managed to protect the children, but wasn't able to save Maria and cursed Zeus in his anger.
After Hades' children and Maria's body were taken away by the Furies, the Oracle appeared before Hades. While Hades blamed the girl for the death of his lover and threatened to destroy her, she countered saying the power of Delphi protected her and that she had warned him to hide the children sooner. Hades still blamed her as this all came about because of her prophecy. The Oracle remained unflinching until Hades claimed that even if he can't kill her, he could curse her. Hades then claimed that as long as his children remain outcasts and he is forced to labor under her Great Prophecy, the spirit of the Oracle would never pass on to another host. Even after death, the spirit would never move on and would continue to speak prophecies until her body withered away to nothing but dust.
3. Croesus of Lydia: What to Avoid When Consulting the Pythia
Croesus was king of Lydia, an area that is now part of modern-day Turkey. He ruled from around 560 to 546 BCE and is known as one of the richest men who ever lived. The ancient historian Herodotus gives a detailed account of his life. Herodotus places great emphasis on Croesus’ arrogance which is attributed directly to his power and wealth. This is highlighted very clearly in his visits to The Oracle of Delphi.
Early in his reign, Croesus wished to discover which was the most accurate of all the oracles. He, therefore, devised a test to see which gave the most precise answer. He asked each oracle to say what he was doing at a set point in time, a question to which only he knew the answer. Unsurprisingly, the Pythia provided the correct answer. Croesus was duly impressed and sent a large amount of gold and silver dedications to Delphi.
Soon he began to formulate plans to invade his powerful neighbor Persia. So he went to Delphi again to seek the Pythia’s advice, this was Apollo’s response:
‘If you make war on the Persians, you will destroy a great empire.’
However, Croesus made a fatal mistake and failed to consider this response carefully. He simply assumed that the reference to ‘a great empire’ meant Persia. Not long into the subsequent war, Croesus overstretched his army and soon found himself defeated and captured by the Persians. In a twist of fate, Apollo eventually took pity on him and saved him from execution.
Croesus’ story provides a warning on how not to interpret oracular statements. Herodotus’ account shows the importance of careful consideration of the divine word and the dangers of arrogant assumptions.
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By Laura Hayward MA Classics, PGCE Classics, BA Latin with Greek Laura Hayward is a contributing writer and researcher from London, UK. She is a specialist in the field of Classics, in which she has either studied or worked for over twenty years. She holds a B.A. and M.A. in Classics from University College London. She has also worked as a teacher of Classics in a leading independent school in London. Her particular areas of interest are Latin language and literature as well as Roman art and epigraphy.
The Oracle of Delphi, also known as the Pythia, is a speaker of the prophecies of Apollo. The current Oracle is Rachel Elizabeth Dare.
The words of the Oracle of Delphi in Herodotus, The Histories, 1:47
What exactly is an oracle? Or, more specifically, what was an oracle in an ancient Greek context? The communication of divine knowledge from god to mortal, also known as divination, played a major role in ancient Greek religion. Divination took many forms, from the study of sacrificial entrails to the interpretation of the flight of birds. But perhaps the most important form of divination was the practice of consultation of a god through an intermediary. This intermediary was known as an oracle.
Oracular consultation took place at permanent sites and sanctuaries scattered across ancient Greece. The king of the gods, Zeus, had prestigious oracles at both Olympia and Dodona. There were also oracles of Apollo as far afield as Didyma in Asia Minor and on the island of Delos. However, it was the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi that was the most renowned and enduring of them all.
The Oracle of Delphi has fascinated civilizations as both an institution and a concept across the millennia. There are a plethora of ancient sources which refer to the oracle, from the 5th-century BC poet, Pindar, to the 2nd-century AD geographer, Pausanias. Delphi has also captivated later artists and writers. Lord Byron even left some graffiti on the stones of the gymnasium when he visited the site in 1809. All of this literary attention highlights Delphi’s importance, but why exactly did it hold such a special position in the ancient Greek world?
The Oracle's Curse
While the Oracle could no longer change bodies, after her death the only person to know this was Hades.
Twenty years later after the Oracle's death, May Castellan attempted to take on the spirit of the Oracle of Delphi. While Chiron encouraged her, her lover Hermes protested against it as it seemed humanity had lost the power to hold the spirit. May however wanted to host the Oracle and pushed for it knowing the risks. The process didn't work however and May was cursed with horrible visions of the future about her son and small occasions where she would talk about his fate in a crazed manner.
The body of the Oracle continued to remain in the attic and no one else was allowed to try and take on the spirit.
Abilities
The power the Oracle uses to foretell the future and protect herself originates from the earth at Delphi. If that magic is blocked, the Oracle, Apollo, and anyone who depends on them for the power of prophecy loses the ability to predict the future.
- Prophecy: The Oracle has the power to speak the prophecies of Apollo. They are able to see the destinies of others. However, while an Oracle can see the future, they don't always remember what they have said while they are being possessed by the Spirit of Delphi. Apollo is not always directly responsible for these prophecies as in The Tower of Nero, Rachel makes a prophecy in his presence without Apollo's involvement and even to his surprise.
- Divine Protection (limited): The Oracle is protected from even the gods, so much so that even Hades was unable to kill the Oracle, though he could curse her.
The Tower of Nero
Python continues to interfere with Rachel Elizabeth Dare's ability to use the Oracle to make prophecies. During the monster's final battle with Apollo, it breathes in the Oracle's spirit and begins a prophecy starting with "Apollo must fall." However, Apollo interrupts the prophecy with an attack, causing Python to release the spirit. The Arrow of Dodona subsequently finishes the prophecy: "Apollo must fall, but Apollo must rise again." The prophecy comes true when Apollo throws himself and Python into a fall that eventually leads them to the edge of the Sea of Chaos.
After Python's destruction in the Sea of Chaos, Rachel's ability to make prophecies with the Oracle is restored. When Apollo returns to Camp Half-Blood two weeks later, Rachel mentions that she has already made a couple of prophecies. Nico di Angelo uses this to seek prophetic help in his quest to try to figure out what happened to Iapetus and if the friendly Titan survived or not. After Will Solace states that they will handle whatever comes next with or without a prophecy, Rachel suddenly makes a prophecy without the intervention of Apollo. Only Will and Nico hear it and Will tells Apollo that it doesn't sound good but doesn't elaborate.
“ | I accept this role. I pledge myself to Apollo, God of Oracles. I open my eyes to the future and embrace the past. I accept the spirit of Delphi, Voice of the Gods, Speaker of Riddles, Seer of Fate. | ” |
Apollo, God of the Oracle
It can be assumed that all maidens who can see through the Mist and with the gift of prophecy wanting to take on the Spirit of Delphi must make this same oath to Apollo. In The Last Olympian, Rachel said the words of the oath the green mist thickened. As she finished, the mist enveloped her in a column and Rachel collapsed, the spirit either taking hold or not.
Other Oracles Around the World
There were many other, less significant, oracular sites around the world. To cite just a few, for example, in western Turkey, Didyma became the second most prominent oracle to the Greek world, primarily around the Mediterranean. Many high officials, emperors, and even Alexander the Great visited the Didymaean prophetess. At the very ancient Greek acropolis of Argosin, the oracle tasted the blood of a lamb before issuing her prophecies. The Greek settlement of Cumae on the Italian peninsula housed a famous seer, the Cumaean Sibyl, who flew into wild ecstatic fits to utter the words of Apollo.
What Does Oracle Mean?
By definition, an oracle can be a priestess or priest who serves as a medium to provide prophecies or advice. It can also be the place where such prophecies are given, or it can be the prophecy itself. For the sake of clarity, in this article, the word oracle will usually refer to the priestess, seer, prophetess, medium, or Sibyl.
2. Solon of Athens: Laying the Foundations of Democracy
A marble portrait bust of Solon (a Roman copy of a Greek original), circa 90 CE, The National Archaeological Museum of Naples, Farnese Collection
Sparta was not the only city-state in Greece with much to thank the Oracle of Delphi for. Athens also experienced major social and political reforms as a result of a visit to the sacred site. Around 594 BCE Solon, a leading light in Athenian politics, consulted the Pythia about the state of his home city. At that time, the Athenian society was dominated by the aristocratic elite and the city was ruled by a series of tyrants. Solon felt the time had come for drastic changes and asked the oracle for advice.
One of the responses was as follows:
‘Position yourself now amid ships, for you are the pilot of Athens. Grasp the helm tight in your hands; you have many allies in your city.’
Solon interpreted this as an opportunity to steer Athens away from its current political system and not rule as a tyrant himself.
Solon made far-reaching constitutional reforms that benefited the wider populace and not just the elite. These changes included the introduction of jury trials, proportionate taxation, and forgiveness of prior debts to allow the poor to rebuild their lives.
In thanks to Delphi, a new law required magistrates to swear a public oath on entering office always to uphold justice. If they broke their oath, they were to dedicate a life-sized statue of solid gold at Delphi.
The full extent of Solon’s laws and reforms took time to materialize. But over the next century, they could be seen to pave the way for the first democracy to flourish. Therefore, Solon’s visit to Delphi had a wide-reaching effect on the future of western civilization and its political institutions.
Prophecies and Quotes of the Oracle of Delphi
- Around 440 BCE, she uttered one of her most famous statements. She said that there was no one wiser than Socrates.
- She inspired Lycurgus, the eighth century BCE lawmaker of Sparta, to draft the constitution. Lycurgus also introduced cumbersome coins made of iron to discourage greed because the oracle stated:
“Love of money and nothing else will ruin Sparta.”
Lycurgus, a lawmaker for Sparta c. 800 BCE, is visiting the Oracle of Delphi with a sacrificial goat and branch of Laurel leaves. Delacroix c. 1840.
- Croesus, king of the Lydians, held a special test for the oracles of Greece around 560 BCE, including the Pythia at Delphi. When he asked her to tell him what he was doing on a particular day, the Delphic Oracle replied:
“I count the grains of sand on the beach and measure the sea; I understand the speech of the dumb and hear the voiceless. The smell has come to my sense of a hard-shelled tortoise boiling and bubbling with a lamb’s flesh in a bronze pot:
the cauldron underneath it is of bronze, and bronze is the lid.”
She was correct and became the winner of the ‘contest of oracles.’ Croesus then asked her if he should attack Persia. She replied that a great empire would fall if he attacked. So Croesus did strike, but it was his own empire that fell.
- When Athens and Sparta received word that Darius of Persia was going to attempt to conquer Greece, the oracle prophesied doom for the Athenians:
“Now your statues are standing and pouring sweat. They shiver with dread. The black blood drips from the highest rooftops. They have seen the necessity of evil. Get out, get out of my sanctum and drown your spirits in woe.”
- Alexander the Great wanted to know if he would conquer the world. The priestess tried to rebuff him and told him to come back another time. Alexander, furious, dragged her out of the oracle by her hair. She screamed, “You are invincible, my son.” He was satisfied and said, “Now I have my answer.”
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Oracle of Delphi: Why Was It So Important To Ancient Greeks?
By Laura Hayward MA Classics, PGCE Classics, BA Latin with Greek Laura Hayward is a contributing writer and researcher from London, UK. She is a specialist in the field of Classics, in which she has either studied or worked for over twenty years. She holds a B.A. and M.A. in Classics from University College London. She has also worked as a teacher of Classics in a leading independent school in London. Her particular areas of interest are Latin language and literature as well as Roman art and epigraphy.
The Oracle of Delphi was one of the most powerful religious institutions in ancient Greece. Read on for why the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi held such importance.
Red-figure bell-krater depicting Orestes visiting Delphi to request help from Apollo and Athena, 4th century BC, via the British Museum, London
The Pythia Of Delphi
Once someone had made the journey to Delphi, often lasting for many days, what happened next in the consultation process? Access to the Oracle was actually very restricted, it was this element of exclusivity which added significantly to Delphi’s importance.
The Oracle was only available for consultation on one day of each month. For three months of the year, during winter, there were no consultations. It was believed that this was because Apollo sought warmer climes during the colder months. Consultation was, therefore, only possible for nine days of the year.
Even on these nine days, a further process took place to determine if Apollo was happy to be consulted. Cold water was sprinkled on a sacrificial goat. If the goat shuddered then Apollo had given his consent and the day could proceed as planned.
Bronze rod tripod similar to that used at Delphi by the Pythia, 6th century BC, via The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
On each consultation day, there was a queue of consultants, each of whom had to purify themselves in spring water near the sanctuary. Delphians went first, followed by people who had a representative in the Amphictyony and then all other Greeks. Non-Greeks were admitted last.
Each consultant had to pay money and offer a pelanos, a type of sacrificial cake, before the consultation. A further sacrifice was burned as an offering to all the gods and also to the people of Delphi. It was then time for the consultant to meet the priestess of Apollo, otherwise known as the Pythia and Oracle of Delphi.
Priestess of Delphi by John Collier, 1891, via the Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide
Little is known about the Pythia but we do know that all Pythias had to be Delphian women from respected families. Once chosen they would serve for life. By the 4th century BC, the Pythia lived permanently in a house at the sanctuary. On consultation days, she would bathe in the Castalian Spring near the sanctuary. She would then proceed to the temple and burn a sacrifice to Apollo of laurel leaves and barley meal.
The sources vary wildly about what happened next. The general consensus is that the Pythia received consultants while seated on a tripod in an inner part of the temple. Later ancient sources mention a chasm in the floor of the temple. From this opening, some sort of vapor apparently rose up and was inhaled by the Pythia. She then entered a type of trance and uttered forth the divine words of Apollo.
Was the Pythia on Drugs?
According to various sources, the oracle may have used special narcotic botanicals, such as oleander, intoxicating spring water, or gases that rose from fissures in the ground below her seat. These were likely mind-altering substances. Once fully immersed in a state of divine ecstasy, or manteia, the priestess began channeling Apollo.
Socrates said, “The special gift of heaven . . . prophecy is a madness, and the prophetess at Delphi and the priestess at Dodona, when out of their senses, have conferred great benefits on Hellas [Greece], but when in their senses, few or none” (Klimo, 1998).
The Oracle of Delphi entered a trance that resulted in delirium or frenzy during prophecies. Public Domain.
“The responses were often obscure and enigmatical, and couched in ambiguous and metaphorical expressions, which themselves needed an explanation,” wrote Oskar Seyffert in A Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, Mythology, Religion, Literature & Art. Often a priest stood by who would interpret the garbled words of the oracle. Before the end of the last Millenium BCE, the priestesses delivered messages in the form of poetry, called dactylic hexameters, and the priests wrote down the words on leaves or other objects.
Caroline Teti argues that the idea of the drug-induced oracle is overplayed by many modern researchers. She indicates that there are several descriptions of the Pythia as a sane, composed, and calm individual during oracular readings. Those women, she proposes, used divine inspiration rather than drugs to predict the future. Even in the case of a drug-induced woman in a frenzy, her prophecies, assuming them to contain some truth, could not have come from the drugs themselves.
Why Was the Oracle of Delphi so Important?
The sanctuary at Delphi likely originated from a small, relatively insignificant settlement. Little is known about its early history and the ancient sources all differ on the site’s origins. Some say that it was the location of the tomb of the god Dionysus. Other sources state that Delphi was the home of the ancient mother goddess Gaia. This ancient lineage and the early links with important deities later added status to the oracle and its statements.
Delphi’s unique location was also fundamental to its success as an international religious site. The ancient Greeks believed that Delphi marked the navel of the known world and was established as such by Zeus. An unusual marker stone, or omphalos, was found at the site and is thought to indicate the exact central spot.
An Omphalos stone of Delphi, Hellenistic era, Greek Culture Ministry
Delphi’s mountainous location was also on an important trade route from Corinth to northern Greece. This meant that visitors could access the remote site with relative ease.
Perhaps most importantly of all, Delphi was independent. The site was not attached to a large city-state but was protected by a council of representatives, known as the Amphictyony. This meant that Delphi could take a neutral standpoint in internal wars and national crises.
The importance of the Oracle of Delphi would have been clear to any ancient visitor. Huge levels of wealth were on show at the site. Temples, treasury buildings, and vast statues were dedicated by cities across Greece and beyond. Everyone wanted to have a presence at Delphi as a way of marking their own power and importance in an increasingly competitive world.
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Any visitor to the site of Delphi today will be struck by its remarkable location. As the mists clear and the sacred ruins reveal themselves, there is a palpable sense of otherworldliness about the site. It is definitely easy to see why the ancient Greeks called it the ‘navel of the world.’
One story tells of how Zeus released two eagles, one from each end of the Earth. At the point at which the eagles crossed, he threw down a stone to determine the center of the Earth. The stone landed at Delphi. This stone is thought to be represented by a mysterious marker excavated at the site, known as the omphalos, or navel stone. However, some ancient sources state that this stone was actually the marker for the tomb of Dionysus.
Located on a rocky ridge beneath Mount Parnassus, Delphi is a site that does not lend itself to human occupation. It is a place belonging to the gods. The sources vary wildly on the origins of Delphi. Some state that Gaia, the mother goddess of Earth, was the first inhabitant, long before Apollo. This ancient lineage gave a certain level of prestige to the site.
Despite its lofty mythological origins, it is likely that Delphi started off as a small, relatively insignificant settlement. However, it was located on an important trade route from Corinth to Northern Greece. In the 8th century BC, increased levels of trade around Greece meant that Delphi gradually became more widely visited. By the 5th century BC, the oracle of Delphi had become the most well-known sacred site in Greece.
One of the many reasons why Delphi became so important was due to its independence. Delphi’s location in Greece meant that it was not attached to any of the large and powerful city-states, such as Athens, Sparta or Corinth. This allowed it to maintain neutrality which, in theory at least, made its sanctuary accessible to all.
Of course, its importance and growing wealth made it a target for attacks from time to time. But it was protected and managed by a council, known as the Amphictyony. This council was made up of representatives from across Greece. Key members included those from Thessaly, Athens and Sicyon. The Amphictyony played an important role in the growth of the sanctuary across the centuries.
5. Alexander the Great: Conflict with the Pythia
As we have seen, some of the great figures from Greek history had important visits with the Pythia based on mutual respect and understanding. However, Alexander the Great had a less than harmonious relationship with the Oracle of Delphi.
Early in his reign in 336 BC, the young Alexander went to Delphi to consult the Pythia on his proposed campaign against Persia. But he arrived on a day not allocated for consultation and he was asked to come back another time. This angered the young King of Macedonia. Legend has it that Alexander forced the Pythia to come out and provide a statement. The sources vary on the nature of this force. Some state that Alexander held the Pythia by the hair and dragged her to the Temple of Apollo for his consultation. Once in situ, the Pythia is said to have simply declared:
‘Boy, you are invincible.’
Alexander was satisfied by this response and duly began his successful attack on Persia. Modern scholars dispute that this meeting ever really took place. Many believe that it was a fictitious account devised long after the true extent of Alexander’s military success had become apparent.
Even if this meeting was a myth, the king never made a dedication in person at Delphi. His most lavish gifts were always focused on the oracle at Olympia as if to snub Delphi (Scott, 2014, p. 164). It appears that during his incredible life, there was no love lost between Alexander and the Oracle of Delphi. His invincibility was also short-lived. Alexander died of an illness at the height of his success at the age of just 32.
What Exactly Was the Oracle of Delphi?
A carved bone plaque depicting the god Apollo leaning against a tree, 3rd-4th century CE, The Walters Art Museum
Consultation of the gods was one of the cornerstones of ancient Greek religion. People believed that establishing a line of communication with a deity could grant them access to divine wisdom. Some also hoped for the personal favor of a deity and would bring offerings to appease the god or goddess concerned.
As the god of prophecy, Apollo was the natural choice for those wishing to know what lay ahead. But, more often than not, the consultations at Delphi could be better described as the imparting of divine advice rather than prophecy. Visitors would ask a specific question and the Pythia would answer, sometimes in the form of a riddle or line of verse.
Red-figure bell-krater depicting Orestes visiting the Pythia at Delphi to request help from Apollo and Athena, 4th century BCE, British Museum
The Pythia was more like an agent of Apollo rather than his priestess. She had the unique role of being the vehicle through which words were transmitted from god to mortal. Before each day of consultation, she would purify herself in the Castalian spring near the sanctuary in readiness for her task.
The Oracle of Delphi and its Role in the History of Ancient Greece
The Oracle of Delphi produced countless statements across its thousand-year history. But from just the five episodes explored above, its pivotal role in the history of ancient Greece is clear. The Oracle played a part in many of the key episodes which shaped ancient Greek civilization. From the age-defining Persian wars, the ultimate battle between East and West, to the vast expansion of the empire by Alexander the Great. But perhaps even more important was its assistance in the development of states, societies, and cultures. City-states such as Athens and Sparta owed a great debt to Delphi. In particular, ancient Athenian politics and culture continue to have a profound influence on western civilization to this very day.
How Was the Oracle of Delphi Created?
Located about 100 miles northeast of Athens, Delphi was the very navel or center of the world to the Greeks. In the first century CE, Plutarch wrote about the Delphic sanctuary as having a “three thousand years’ old reputation.” However, the evidence does not support this. Many experts agree that between 1700 BCE-1400 BCE, the sanctuary, previously called Pytho, began as a place of the worship of Gaia (Hoyle). As a primordial goddess, Gaia was the Mother Earth who gave birth to the gods.
Based on the Greek story, it was Gaia who first inhabited Delphi, and her son, Pytho (or Python), a mighty serpent or dragon, guarded the site. Gaia appointed the nymph Daphnis as her prophetess — the first Oracle of Delphi. Daphnis breathed in what the writer on ancient Greek myth and religion Robert Graves called “the fumes of prophecy.” Others say she inhaled methane, the odor of rot from a cadaver, or burning laurel leaves.
Later in the myth, Apollo killed Gaia and her son, Python. Apollo then became the indwelling god of the sanctuary at Delphi. From about 1200 BCE, the holy priestess channeled Apollo for all prophecies. A large temple of Apollo was erected in the seventh century BCE and became the most important structure at the acropolis in Delphi. It burned down in 548 BCE, and subsequently, a new temple was built in its place.
Apollo killing Pytho, the son of Gaia. Public Domain.
The Battle of the Labyrinth
Once again, the Oracle is not seen, but she gave Annabeth a prophecy so that she could travel into the Labyrinth and find the inventor, Daedalus. The prophecy told her that she would lose a love to something worse than death, and she avoided mentioning the last line when Chiron asked about it; claiming she had forgotten the line.
The Oracle Of Delphi’s Great Riches
Reconstruction of the Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi by Albert Tournaire, 1894, in École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Art
By the 5th century BC, Delphi had become the most important oracular sanctuary in Greece. It attracted visitors from across the Greek world and beyond, from places such as Asia Minor and Egypt. Around 590 BC the first Pythian Games were also held at Delphi in honor of Apollo. These athletic contests became one of the great Panhellenic games-festivals of Greece and occupied a place on the circuit alongside the Olympic Games.
One of the reasons why Delphi had been able to establish its reputation and become so important was because of its growing wealth. The site was ravaged by fire in the 8th and 6th centuries BC. But, thanks to some very generous support and donations, bigger and better sacred buildings were built in the aftermath. These included the vast temple of Apollo and also numerous city-state treasury buildings.
Two marble archaic kouroi statues depicting possibly Cleobis and Biton, around 610 BC, via Archaeological Museum of Delphi
Delphi’s riches came from the offerings and dedications made by individuals and city-states. Many of these offerings came from Eastern kings. The large number of these foreign dedicators reflected the Oracle’s international importance. Croesus of Lydia, for example, gave a solid gold lion statue and large mixing bowls in gold and silver.
Among the most famous dedications were a pair of archaic style statues given by the city of Argos in the late 7th century BC. These statues are thought to be either the twins Castor and Pollux or the brothers Cleobis and Biton. Cleobis and Biton belonged to an Argive myth in which they showed great devotion to both their mother and the goddess Hera.
Bronze statue of a charioteer, 470 BC, via Archaeological Museum of Delphi
Another incredible offering was given by Hieron I, a tyrant of Syracuse. In 470 BC, Hieron won the chariot race at the Pythian Games. In thanks to Apollo, he dedicated a life-size bronze chariot complete with four horses and a charioteer. To date, only the charioteer has been discovered. The statue takes pride of place today in the museum at Delphi.
Delphi’s beautiful statues and precious objects reflect the desire of people and cities to have a permanent presence at the sanctuary. For the ancient Greeks, Delphi was more than just a sacred site. The Oracle held an unrivaled position of prestige and one that would last for over a thousand years. With its ability to influence powerful individuals as well as large city-states, the Oracle of Delphi played a crucial role in the development of Western civilization.
I understand the deaf-mute and hear the words of the dumb.”
What Were the Fumes Below the Oracle?
Research tells us that the temple of Apollo at Delphi sat over a point where two fissures in the earth cross each other. Analyses of the ground and rocks below the temple indicate the presence of ethylene, a sweet-smelling gas, ethane, and methane. These gases flowed to the surface at this spot and could have resulted in delirium and ecstasy. (Spiller et al.).
Plutarch (c. 46 CE-120 CE), the Greek-Roman biographer, served as a priest at Delphi for 30 years before his death. He reported that the Oracle of Delphi usually seemed as though she had run a race or danced an ecstatic dance. According to him, she sometimes flung herself around and raved in a delirious state. Additionally, he occasionally witnessed a sweet smell that emanated from the oracular chamber. He believed that it originated from geological processes in the ground. (Spiller et al.).
Although the seer may have at times been incoherent due to various intoxicants, some say the prophecies she uttered were often deliberately ambiguous. Lack of clarity and detail helped to preserve the authority of the oracle; it might be better to be vague than to be outright wrong. This strategy may have kept the Oracle at Delphi in high esteem for many years.
The Trials of Apollo
The Fame of the Oracle
The prestige and power of the Oracle of Delphi peaked between the sixth century BCE and the fourth century BCE. Kings and Queens, Generals, and soldiers from many countries traveled far to visit the Delphic prophetess. Early on, there was one priestess who divined the future on only one day per year — the birthday of Apollo. Later, as the oracle’s popularity spread, two or three priestesses shared the job by rotating across most days for nine months out of the year.
During the winter, as the Greeks believed, Apollo left the Oracle at Delphi to spend the season in the warm mythical Land of the Hyperboreans. Without their god of light and prophecy, the seers at Delphi did not divine the future until Apollo returned in the spring.
The Temple of Apollo, Delphi, was the seat of the Pythia, who gave prophecies for a fee. CC2.0 Charles Nadeau.
Although anyone could see the Pythia at Delphi for a price — usually an animal sacrifice or valuable votive offering — wealthy people and heads of state paid the oracle well for preferential treatment. Through her, they heard the will of the gods on essential matters, such as military campaigns or auspicious places to found a new colony.
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