Art, obsession, and identity
The Oracle of Delphi was highly respected and revered throughout ancient Greece.
Further up the hill from the Temple of Apollo, the theater provided musical events, plays, and poetry readings to audiences at periodic festivals in Delphi.
The peak time period where people sought the guidance of the Oracle of Delphi occurred between 6 BCE and 4 BCE.
One eagle was sent east, the other was sent west. The eagles crossed at the site between the two rocks of Mount Parnassus, and it was declared the center of the world by Zeus.
She was considered to have been chosen by Apollo to serve as his voice on Earth. Legend said that Apollo had slain a Python at Delphi.
Laurel leaves would be burned each year on the days where the Pythia delivered her prophecies, as an offering to Apollo.
The two fault lines would have caused friction with each other, and this friction would have released methane and ethylene into the water beneath the temple.
The Oracle of Delphi was a high priestess who served as a conduit for the god Apollo at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, Greece.
The Oracle of Delphi was also known as the Pythia (derived from Python). This was the original name for the site where Delphi stands, tying back to Apollo's legend.
Delphi was unique in ancient Greece. It was seen as an independent actor, as it was not under the governance of the nearby city-states. Therefore, Delphi was considered a neutral third party for resolving disputes.
The serpent of Delphi is a bronze column that was constructed to represent three snakes twisting around each other to form a shaft.
The prophecies of the Pythia were sought after by kings, emperors, and commoners alike.
Although there is little evidence about how she was chosen, it's believed the priestess had to be a native of Delphi and of good character—and, more than likely, from an influential family—to qualify for the role of Pythia.
Her predictions were cryptic, often spoken in ambiguous rhymes.
The Pythia was one of the most powerful women in the ancient world. Her position was established around 8 BCE.
Prior to delivering her prophecies, the Pythia would spend days in purification rituals. During this time, she would fast and drink holy water, and bathe in the Castalian spring.
The adyton was the sacred room where the Oracle gave her predictions. She would sit on a bronze tripod seat close to a crack in the floor where vapors were released by the spring beneath.
The sanctuary at Delphi was built around a sacred spring.
Initially the Delphic fault was considered a myth. Then in the 1980s, scientists discovered two separate fault lines crossing beneath the site.
The site at Delphi was inhabited before the Oracle, with evidence of settlement in the Neolithic era. It's now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sources: (History Cooperative) (Atlas Obscura) (Britannica) (Screen Rant)
See also: Where to find America’s most compelling UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Sophocles and Alexander the Great were among those who consulted the Oracle of Delphi.
In the Homeric 'Hymn to Apollo,' the first time Apollo arrives in Delphi he comes in the form of a dolphin.
Initially, predictions only took place at Delphi during the warmer months.
It was believed that Dionysus took Apollo's place in Delphi during the colder winter time.
Laurel was Apollo's sacred tree, and the Oracle of Delphi would sometimes also chew the leaves before fortune-telling.
The verses spoken were recorded by priests surrounding her, who would interpret them.
The Oracle was consulted regarding matters of war, politics, and personal matters. Politicians, lawmakers, and the leaders of cults sought the advice of Apollo on these issues.
According to Greek mythology, the site of Delphi was chosen by Zeus himself. Legend has it he sent two eagles from Mount Olympus to find the center of Mother Earth.
The temple was built around a natural gas vent, which may have contributed to the Oracle's altered state.
The Oracle would breathe deeply, reaching a hallucinogenic state.
One of the most important religious institutions in ancient Greece, the Oracle of Delphi represents a fascinating and mysterious chapter in history. The story tells of a prophetic priestess sat at the site of Delphi, which the ancient Greeks considered the center of the Earth. Oracles were consulted across ancient Greece, but Delphi was different. This center of prophecy in the ancient world was independent from neighboring city-states, resting atop a stunning backdrop of rolling mountains where ruins remain to this day.
Intrigued? Click on to learn why the story of the Oracle of Delphi continues to captivate.
The mysteries of the Oracle of Delphi
The pinnacle of prophecy in the ancient world
LIFESTYLE Ancient civilization
One of the most important religious institutions in ancient Greece, the Oracle of Delphi represents a fascinating and mysterious chapter in history. The story tells of a prophetic priestess sat at the site of Delphi, which the ancient Greeks considered the center of the Earth. Oracles were consulted across ancient Greece, but Delphi was different. This center of prophecy in the ancient world was independent from neighboring city-states, resting atop a stunning backdrop of rolling mountains where ruins remain to this day.
Intrigued? Click on to learn why the story of the Oracle of Delphi continues to captivate.