Delphic Oracle: Difference between revisions
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There are three greek tragedies that deal closely with the Delphic Oracle. [[author::Aeskhylos]]' Aggamemnon as well as [[author::Homer]]'s Iliad | There are three greek tragedies that deal closely with the Delphic Oracle. [[author::Aeskhylos]]' Aggamemnon as well as [[author::Homer]]'s Iliad | ||
Christianity by the 4th Century had taken over and [[character::Theodosius 1]] outlawed the Oracle. Earlier [[character::Julian]] tried to reverse monotheism but the waters have dried out and Apollo was living in a hut. | |||
It lasted 1,000 years and it was not mumbo jumbo but it was a process of deliberation | It lasted 1,000 years and it was not mumbo jumbo but it was a process of deliberation | ||
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[[Category:Greek Mythology]] | [[Category:Greek Mythology]] | ||
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Revision as of 18:53, 7 March 2012
Delphi 38° 32' 9.00" N, 22° 37' 27.00" E
was the most sacred place in the ancient world. From the 8th C BCE to 4th CE. The Delphic Oracle gave famously ambiguous answers
It is located in central Greece. It is said that Zeus sent to eagles to find the center of the world. You can see other points of mythological importance like Arcadia.
In the 8th C BCE it was first founded. It was important because the Greeks were otherwise scattered and Delphi gave them a shared center. The gods or powers or anthropomorphic manefestations of divinity
The twelve inner circle of Gods were located on Mount Olympus although Hades is by definition is not part of the twelve because he is King of the Underworld. On places like Kerebos there would have their own gods. Then you have Herakles who is claimed by all whereas Theseus is claimed by Athens
The reasons why the answers are ambiguosus becuase truth can be construed differently the responses have different meaning. Apollo is most associated with Delph and twin with Artemis. They are called Oracles of Apollo. Apollo displaces mother Earth as a more modern masculine manesfestation of earth.
There were rival Oracles. For instance Zeus had one.
At the center of the temple of Delphi or sanctuary is the Pythia or priestness and you need a citizen of Delphi to sponsor you. Only nine days in nine months (the seventh day of the month) when you could go and visit the Oracle. It is politcally independent council who manage the Oracle. Plutach in the first C was a citizen and offical of Delphi and he writes about the Oracle from an historical point of view.
People would brings gifts or fees to the Oracle so it was reserved for the rich and famous. Euripedes set his play the Ion at Delphi. The Pythia is slected from a local family and helped by 5 helpers and 2 prophets
You could ask an either or question or ask her will I have a baby. What do I need to do. She sits on a tripod and receives the breath of Apollo and gives a response. Some could extemporize in hexameter. But more likely she gives grunts which are interptetd by the prophets. She sits on a smoking incense through which Apollo will answer.
This was believed in by all the great thinkers but was open to fakery. There were cases of bribed prophets but not the Oracle's themselves. Even though the answers were ambiguous the gods gave the clear answers but its the humans who misinterpret the answers. Is it better or best return to Athens?. He did and he was executed. The answer was you will find good law. Heroditos was convinced it was for real.
Kresus consulted 6 or 7 Oracles to test them. Delphi gets the test right then asks the question What shall I do with the emerging Cyrus. The answer was If you cross the river Halis you will destroy a great empire He attacks and is defeated and so an empire was defeated. his own!
Xenophon visits the Oracle. What gods should I sacrifice to? He gets his answer and goes to back to Socrates. He asks why didnt he ask whether he should go on the expedition in the first place. Xenophon has asked the question in such a way to get back the answer he was looking for. Basically he told him that he asked the wrong question.
There are three greek tragedies that deal closely with the Delphic Oracle. Aeskhylos' Aggamemnon as well as Homer's Iliad
Christianity by the 4th Century had taken over and Theodosius 1 outlawed the Oracle. Earlier Julian tried to reverse monotheism but the waters have dried out and Apollo was living in a hut.
It lasted 1,000 years and it was not mumbo jumbo but it was a process of deliberation
