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The Oracle of Delphi
- The Oracle of Delphi was highly respected and revered throughout ancient Greece.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
Zeus
- 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.
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
Mount Parnassus
- 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.
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3 / 31 Fotos
High priestess
- 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.
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
Homer
- In the Homeric 'Hymn to Apollo,' the first time Apollo arrives in Delphi he comes in the form of a dolphin.
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5 / 31 Fotos
Apollo
- 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.
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6 / 31 Fotos
Pythia
- 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.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
Pythia
- The Pythia was one of the most powerful women in the ancient world. Her position was established around 8 BCE.
© Getty Images
8 / 31 Fotos
Prophecy
- The prophecies of the Pythia were sought after by kings, emperors, and commoners alike.
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9 / 31 Fotos
Consultation
- 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.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
Independent
- 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.
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11 / 31 Fotos
Peak
- The peak time period where people sought the guidance of the Oracle of Delphi occurred between 6 BCE and 4 BCE.
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
Characteristics
- 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.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
Preparation
- Laurel leaves would be burned each year on the days where the Pythia delivered her prophecies, as an offering to Apollo.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
Purification
- 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.
© Getty Images
15 / 31 Fotos
Adyton
- 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.
© Getty Images
16 / 31 Fotos
Laurel
- Laurel was Apollo's sacred tree, and the Oracle of Delphi would sometimes also chew the leaves before fortune-telling.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
Trance state
- The Oracle would breathe deeply, reaching a hallucinogenic state.
© Getty Images
18 / 31 Fotos
Ambiguous
- Her predictions were cryptic, often spoken in ambiguous rhymes.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
Recorded
- The verses spoken were recorded by priests surrounding her, who would interpret them.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
Fumes
- The temple was built around a natural gas vent, which may have contributed to the Oracle's altered state.
© Getty Images
21 / 31 Fotos
Fumes
- The sanctuary at Delphi was built around a sacred spring.
© Getty Images
22 / 31 Fotos
Fault lines
- Initially the Delphic fault was considered a myth. Then in the 1980s, scientists discovered two separate fault lines crossing beneath the site.
© Getty Images
23 / 31 Fotos
Fault lines
- 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.
© Shutterstock
24 / 31 Fotos
The serpent
- The serpent of Delphi is a bronze column that was constructed to represent three snakes twisting around each other to form a shaft.
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
Warmer months
- Initially, predictions only took place at Delphi during the warmer months.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
Dionysus
- It was believed that Dionysus took Apollo's place in Delphi during the colder winter time.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
Theater
- 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.
© Shutterstock
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Famous figures
- Sophocles and Alexander the Great were among those who consulted the Oracle of Delphi.
© Getty Images
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UNESCO World Heritage
- 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)
© Getty Images
30 / 31 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 31 Fotos
The Oracle of Delphi
- The Oracle of Delphi was highly respected and revered throughout ancient Greece.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
Zeus
- 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.
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
Mount Parnassus
- 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.
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
High priestess
- 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.
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
Homer
- In the Homeric 'Hymn to Apollo,' the first time Apollo arrives in Delphi he comes in the form of a dolphin.
© Shutterstock
5 / 31 Fotos
Apollo
- 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.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
Pythia
- 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.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
Pythia
- The Pythia was one of the most powerful women in the ancient world. Her position was established around 8 BCE.
© Getty Images
8 / 31 Fotos
Prophecy
- The prophecies of the Pythia were sought after by kings, emperors, and commoners alike.
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
Consultation
- 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.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
Independent
- 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.
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
Peak
- The peak time period where people sought the guidance of the Oracle of Delphi occurred between 6 BCE and 4 BCE.
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
Characteristics
- 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.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
Preparation
- Laurel leaves would be burned each year on the days where the Pythia delivered her prophecies, as an offering to Apollo.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
Purification
- 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.
© Getty Images
15 / 31 Fotos
Adyton
- 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.
© Getty Images
16 / 31 Fotos
Laurel
- Laurel was Apollo's sacred tree, and the Oracle of Delphi would sometimes also chew the leaves before fortune-telling.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
Trance state
- The Oracle would breathe deeply, reaching a hallucinogenic state.
© Getty Images
18 / 31 Fotos
Ambiguous
- Her predictions were cryptic, often spoken in ambiguous rhymes.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
Recorded
- The verses spoken were recorded by priests surrounding her, who would interpret them.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
Fumes
- The temple was built around a natural gas vent, which may have contributed to the Oracle's altered state.
© Getty Images
21 / 31 Fotos
Fumes
- The sanctuary at Delphi was built around a sacred spring.
© Getty Images
22 / 31 Fotos
Fault lines
- Initially the Delphic fault was considered a myth. Then in the 1980s, scientists discovered two separate fault lines crossing beneath the site.
© Getty Images
23 / 31 Fotos
Fault lines
- 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.
© Shutterstock
24 / 31 Fotos
The serpent
- The serpent of Delphi is a bronze column that was constructed to represent three snakes twisting around each other to form a shaft.
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
Warmer months
- Initially, predictions only took place at Delphi during the warmer months.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
Dionysus
- It was believed that Dionysus took Apollo's place in Delphi during the colder winter time.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
Theater
- 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.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
Famous figures
- Sophocles and Alexander the Great were among those who consulted the Oracle of Delphi.
© Getty Images
29 / 31 Fotos
UNESCO World Heritage
- 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)
© Getty Images
30 / 31 Fotos
What exactly was the Oracle of Delphi?
The pinnacle of prophecy in the ancient world
© Shutterstock
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.
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