Who is she?
The oracle at
Delphi was
consulted before
any important
step was taken
in affairs of
state.
Influence
All of the city-states in Greece contributed funds
to the Temple of Apollo.
"Know Thyself”
A massive temple
stood on one of
the very few
spots in the
sanctuary that
was level. Above
the temple door
were carved such
admonitions such
as "Know
Thyself".
”Tell me the
future”
This was where all
those wishing to
consult the Oracle
would come. The
Oracle of Delphi was a
spiritual experience,
in which advice and
questions were asked
to the spirit of Apollo.
Delphi History
Located on the southern sloped of
Mount Parnassos.
Delphi was sacred to Apollo, the god
of prophecy and patron of philosophy
and the arts, whose famous temple and
prophetic shrine were there.
In honor of the killing of the monster
Python by Apollo, the Pythian Games
were held in Delphi every four years.
A priestess was known as the Pythia in
honour of Apollo’s slaying of a mythical
beast called the Python.
The trancelike state in which the
Delphic oracle (always a woman)
delivered her prophecies was induced
by vapors that rose from the earth
underneath the temple of Apollo. Long
dismissed as a legend, this story
received confirmation from the
findings (2001)
•Rests on the side of Mount Parnassus
•Center-piece of Delphi, built with donations from every
Greek city-state and from abroad
•The base of the temple still stands
Sacred way
Upon arriving at Delphi,
•the supplicants registered and paid a fee;
•purified themselves at the Castalian
Spring,
•proceeded along the Sacred Way, lined
with statues and offerings and small
shrines sponsored by various Greek cities
as thank-offerings for important victories.
•the pilgrims entered one by one to ask the
sibyl their question.
The Oracle
Home of the sacred oracle of the
sun-god Apollo
Apollo was believed to send messages
to humans through a cleft in the
rocks( the omphalos)
These sayings were interpreted by the
oracle, a priestess known as the
Pythia( got her name in honour of
Apollo’s slaying of a mythical beast
called the Python.
The oracles replies were usually so
ambiguous that it was difficult ever
to prove them wrong, but this does
not seem to have discouraged
supplicants.
Greeks and non-Greeks, kings, and
commoners, came to consult the
oracle of private and public matters
Prophet
It was first necessary to sacrifice an animal, then to wait in the inner
chamber of the temple
Priestesses ( there were three altogether) were women over 50 years of
age.
1. They first cleansed themselves in the scared spring of Kastalia and drank
water from another spring.
2. They chewed bay leaves while seated on a tripod suspended over a cleft in
the rocks
3. “The vapours issuing from the cleft were supposed to give the priestesses
(Pyhtia) a heightened consciousness and cause prophetic utterances.”
4. These cries would then be interpreted by a male prophet usually in
ambiguous verse
4 Stages
4. Ambiguous Verses 1. Castalia Spring
3.Prophecies 2. Bay Leaves
Pythia Apollo
Omphalos
Political
During the 8th century the city states began to seek the oracle’s advice on colonizing ventures,
and it grew in importance.
Was consulted on a wide range of personal and political problems.
Gained importance as a meeting-place with the establishment of the Pythian games about 590BCE
Political Figures that visited the Oracle
Oedipus—> “ Prophesized that he would kill his father and marry his mother.”
When grown, Oedipus heard the prophecy about himself and fled Corinth, believing that Polybius
was his father. While on the road he killed a stranger, not knowing that it was Laius. Entering
Thebes, he found the city dominated by a sphinx who killed anyone who could not solve her riddle:
"Who goes on four feet in the morning, on two at noon, and in the evening on three?" Oedipus
vanquished her by replying, "Man, in the three ages of his life," and won the hand of the widowed
queen.
Before the Battle of Salamis when the Pythia first predicted doom and later predicted that a
'wooden wall' (interpreted by the Athenians to mean their ships) would save them.
king Croesus of Lydia (circa 546 BCE) who asked if he should invade Persian territory. His reply
from the oracle was, if he did invade a mighty empire would be destroyed. Croesus thinking he
would be victorious invaded, but it was his own empire that fell and subsequently destroyed.
Socrates
Alexander the Great
Sophocles
Economic
Short Term
The city states made
rich offerings to
Apollo to invoke his
help.
Long Term
Became prosperous
The interpretations of
the ambiguous verses
lead to the downfall of
some countries.
(economically)
Social
“ Personal ethics and social morality
were given great importance, and the
sanction given to overseas
settlements enhanced the
sanctuary’s influence in the wider
Greek world.”
Towns in Greece wanting to establish
new settlements abroad, often
consulted the Oracle of Apollo at
Delphi
Local Greek farmers would consult
the oracle for advice on crops and
harvesting
Helped people make decisions
In conclusion, this advice and ritual
of visiting the oracle became
imbedded into their every day life.
Impact on Greece
In Greek history the chief significance of Delphi was that it provided a
meeting place for the inhabitants of the city-states.
Pythian games established around 590BCE.
In religion its influence was conservative.
“On the subject of purification from bloodshed, it took a strong stand
and gradually evolved the doctrine that purity was a matter of the spirit
rather than of ritual. Its moderate philosophy was well summarized by
the maxims inscribed on the wall of the Temple of Apollo "Know
thyself" and "Nothing too much.“
We have fortune tellers in today’s society
Some of the prophecies lead to the destruction of some civilizations.
Example: Lydia, Creouses
People became dependent on the prophecies given
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the Oracle of Delphi was a place where Greeks, and non-
Greeks, kings, and commoners came to consult the oracle on private
and public matters.
Delphi was sacred to Apollo, the god of prophecy and patron of
philosophy and the arts, whose famous temple and prophetic shrine
were there.
Delphi was considered the centre of known world.
( According to Zeus)
The oracle helped people make decisions, such as harvesting crops and
going to battle.
The sanctuary’ had an influence on the wider Greek world.
Discussion
What was the Oracle of Delphi?
Why did people go there?
Do you believe in Prophecies?
Why do people find the need to know their future?
If you went to a psychic would you believe what they say about your future?
Can people really predict the future?
Do you have control over your destiny, or believe in fate?
Do you think that hearing prophecies can lead to your downfall?
Do you believe that someone who is intoxicated (bay leaves) would be able to make a clear prophecy of
your future? Explain.