Oracle of Delphi

The Oracle of Delphi was one of ancient Greece’s most significant religious institutions, known for its prophetic insights and deep spiritual authority.

Located at Delphi, a sanctuary on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, the oracle played a central role in Greek religious life for over a millennium, attracting individuals and city-states seeking divine guidance. Here is a detailed overview:

Location and Context

Geographic Location: The Temple of Apollo at Delphi is located in central Greece, on the southwestern spur of Mount Parnassus. It was considered the navel of the world, or the “omphalos,” according to Greek mythology, marked by a sacred stone. View

Delphi was regarded as the most important oracle in ancient Greece. Both individuals and city-states traveled to seek advice. Its role extended beyond religious prophecy into Greece’s political and cultural life.

The Pythia

Priestess of Apollo: The Pythia was the name given to the high priestess who channeled Apollo, the god of prophecy, music, and healing.

The Pythia was a key figure in delivering the oracle’s messages. She was typically chosen from the local area and had to meet several requirements, including being a mature woman of reputable character and often a virgin in the early centuries.

State of Trance: The Pythia delivered her prophecies in a trance-like state, often believed to be induced by natural gases emanating from a chasm beneath the temple.

The gases were thought to alter her consciousness, allowing Apollo to speak through her. Some researchers suggest these gases might have included ethylene, which has hallucinogenic effects.

Role in Greek Life: The words of the Pythia were taken seriously by both leaders and commoners. Kings would ask about wars, states would inquire about founding colonies, and individuals would seek personal advice. The Pythia’s utterances were often interpreted by priests, who put the sometimes cryptic responses into verse or prose.

Historical and Mythological Background

According to Greek mythology, Apollo chose Delphi as the site for his oracle after defeating a Python, a serpent or dragon that guarded the area.

The name Pythia derives from this story, as “Pytho” was an earlier name for the site. The nearby sacred spring of Castalia was also central to the sanctuary’s rituals.

The omphalos stone, symbolizing the center of the world, was kept at Delphi, marking its central religious importance. It was believed to have been placed there by Zeus after releasing two eagles from opposite ends of the earth that met at Delphi.

Function and Influence

Consultation Process: Consultation of the oracle involved several steps. First, visitors made an offering and purified themselves in the nearby Castalian Spring.

They would then present their questions, which the Pythia answered while seated on a tripod above the chasm. The responses were often ambiguous or enigmatic, requiring interpretation by priests.

The Oracle of Delphi was significant not only for its religious impact but also for its political influence. Leaders like Croesus of Lydia and the Spartans famously consulted the oracle before making critical decisions.

The Delphic responses often affected political alliances, war declarations, and colonies’ founding.

Some of the best-known prophecies include the prediction to King Croesus that if he attacked Persia, he would destroy a great empire—an example of the oracle’s often ambiguous language since it turned out Croesus destroyed his own empire.

Rituals and Offerings

Ritual Practices: Before delivering a prophecy, the Pythia underwent various ritual purifications. Sacrificial offerings were also made, typically involving the burning of animal parts, which was believed to help establish communication with the divine.

Treasuries at Delphi: Several Greek city-states built treasuries at Delphi to store offerings and showcase their wealth. The Treasury of Athens and the Treasury of the Siphnians are among the most famous. These treasuries were adorned with exquisite artworks and served as a display of devotion and power.

Decline and Legacy

Under Roman rule, Delphi continued to be revered, but its influence gradually waned as political dynamics shifted. Emperors like Hadrian paid visits, and even Nero consulted the oracle.

The oracle’s power significantly declined with the rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire. By the end of the 4th century CE, Emperor Theodosius ordered the closure of pagan temples, and Delphi’s oracle was eventually abandoned.

The legacy of the Oracle of Delphi is far-reaching, inspiring myths, literature, and philosophical thought throughout Western culture.

Delphi became a symbol of the pursuit of knowledge, epitomized by the famous aphorism inscribed at the temple: “Know thyself” (Greek: gnothi seauton).

Origin and Evolution of the Oracle of Delphi

The Oracle of Delphi, dedicated to Apollo, was a revered religious institution in ancient Greece. Initially, it was believed that Apollo inhabited the laurel tree, offering oracles through the rustling of its leaves. The Thriae, three winged sisters from Mount Parnassus, were said to have taught Apollo the art of divination, previously practiced at a local oracle that used lots for prophecy.

Types of Oracles at Delphi

Over time, three distinct oracles operated in Delphi:

1. Chthonion Oracle: Involved egkoimisi, a practice where people slept in a sacred space to receive visions.
2. Kliromanteion: Used lots for divination.
3. Apollonian Oracle: Utilized the laurel tree, with the Pythia serving as the intermediary after the Dionysian cult was introduced. Pythia entered a trance, seated on a gilded tripod above the inner sanctum, where vapors were believed to emerge.

Initially, the Pythia was a young virgin, but following the abduction of a Pythia by Echecrates of Thessaly in the 3rd century BCE, only women over fifty were appointed, dressed to resemble young maidens.

Selection and Role of the Pythia

The Pythia was chosen from among the local women of Delphi, who were required to lead sober lives. Originally selected from noble families, later Pythias could also be of peasant origin. Upon becoming the Pythia, they relinquished family responsibilities and adopted a distinct, solitary role. The responses given by the Pythia were often interpreted and transcribed by priests, sometimes transformed into hexameter verse.

According to Plutarch, who served as a priest at Delphi, the Pythia could be from a variety of backgrounds—rich or poor, educated or illiterate. Her eligibility was based more on aptitude than social status. The Pythia’s role, though exhausting, was respected, and she enjoyed various privileges, including tax exemptions, property rights, and a state salary.

Oracle Rituals and Practices

Up to three women served as Pythia during its peak, with two alternating and one as a reserve. Prophecies were offered only on one day each month. Before each session, the Pythia underwent purification, including bathing in the Castalian Spring and drinking from the Cassotis Spring.

A goat was sacrificed to determine whether the omens were favorable. If they were, the Pythia descended into the adyton, holding laurel leaves and a dish of sacred water. She then sat on the tripod, surrounded by symbols of Zeus’ authority, and inhaled vapors to enter a trance state, during which the prophecy was given.

Other Officials and Seasonal Influence

Besides the Pythia, the oracle was managed by priests of Apollo and other officials called hosioi and prophētai. The prophetai may have interpreted or reformulated the Pythia’s utterances.

Apollo was said to leave the temple during winter, replaced by Dionysus, whose rites included ecstatic celebrations. The oracle thus operated during the nine warmest months, starting in spring.

Delphic Sayings and Rituals

In the pronaos of Apollo’s temple, three sayings were inscribed:

1. “Know thyself”
2. “Nothing to excess”
3. “Surety brings ruin”

These were believed to guide the actions of those consulting the oracle. During consultation, elaborate rituals took place, including the sacrifice of a goat and the Pythia’s ascension to the tripod. Prophecies could be deferred if omens were unfavorable, as seen in instances noted by Plutarch, where the Pythia’s state after a session was likened to exhaustion from an intense physical ordeal.

Decline and Influence

After 200 BCE, Delphi was overseen by two priests, one of whom was Plutarch. The oracle influenced major Greek undertakings, such as expeditions and colony foundations.

However, with the rise of Christianity, the oracle’s role declined as Christian leaders considered the oracle to be influenced by demons. Despite this, the Oracle of Delphi remained a central and authoritative religious institution in Greek antiquity, its influence reaching deeply into political, cultural, and personal decision-making across the Greek world.

Known Pythias in History

1. Phemonoe
   • Role: Traditionally regarded as the first Pythia.
   • Details: Ancient Greek sources often cite Phemonoe as the very first priestess to serve Apollo at Delphi. She is also credited in some accounts with the invention of hexameter verse, which was used for oracular pronouncements. However, it is possible that Phemonoe is a legendary figure rather than a historical one.
2. Aristonike
   • Time Period: Likely Hellenistic or Roman era.
   • Details: Not much is known about Aristonike beyond her name. She is mentioned briefly in sources without substantial details on her background or her term of service.
3. Themistoclea (also Aristoclea)
   • Role: Sometimes referred to as a Pythia or associated with the oracle.
   • Details: According to Diogenes Laërtius, Themistoclea was a priestess of Apollo at Delphi and, interestingly, is said to have been a teacher or influencer of Pythagoras, the famous philosopher. She is sometimes noted for sharing philosophical wisdom, although it is unclear if she was formally the Pythia.
4. Herophile
   • Role: Another name occasionally associated with Delphi.
   • Details: Herophile is sometimes described as one of the sibyls (female prophets) and was said to have connections with Delphi. However, her role might have overlapped with that of the Pythia or be a later mythologization.
5. Perialla
   • Time Period: During the reign of Roman Emperor Hadrian (2nd century CE).
   • Details: Perialla is another name mentioned briefly in inscriptions from the Roman period. She served as a Pythia during Hadrian’s time, a period when the oracle continued to be consulted, although its influence had already begun to wane.