The Delphi Oracle
Pythia(The oracle at Delphi) is a figure of great historical importance that was, and still is, shrouded in mystery. She spoke to the god Apollo and answered Greek inquirers about civilisation, religion and power. Since the first operation of the oracle of Delphi Temple. People would come from all over Europe to ask Pythia(The oracle at Delphi) questions about the future, like where they should plant their crops and if their emperor would declare war.
The Origins of the Oracle
The name Pythia was given to any priestess who stepped into the temple of Apollo at Delphi. The priestess was any women over the age of fifty; she would live away from her husband and would dress in maiden clothes. According to Plutarch, who once served as a priest at Delphi, the Priestess would enter the inner camber of the temple (Adyton) then she would sit on a tripod and inhales the hydrocarbon gasses that escape from a chasm on the porous earth.
The Location of the Oracle
The site of Delphi is located in upper central Greece, on multiple plateaux/terraces along the slope of Mount Parnassus, and includes the Sanctuary of Apollo, the site of the ancient Oracle. This semicircular spur is known as Phaedriades, and overlooks the Pleistos Valley.
The Demise of the Oracle
In 480BCE the sanctuary was under attack by Persians, this time by Gauls. It’s was the 3rd century when the region came under control of the Aitolian League.
References:
http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/background/7_p1.html
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/08/0814_delphioracle.html
Pythia(The oracle at Delphi) is a figure of great historical importance that was, and still is, shrouded in mystery. She spoke to the god Apollo and answered Greek inquirers about civilisation, religion and power. Since the first operation of the oracle of Delphi Temple. People would come from all over Europe to ask Pythia(The oracle at Delphi) questions about the future, like where they should plant their crops and if their emperor would declare war.
The Origins of the Oracle
The name Pythia was given to any priestess who stepped into the temple of Apollo at Delphi. The priestess was any women over the age of fifty; she would live away from her husband and would dress in maiden clothes. According to Plutarch, who once served as a priest at Delphi, the Priestess would enter the inner camber of the temple (Adyton) then she would sit on a tripod and inhales the hydrocarbon gasses that escape from a chasm on the porous earth.
The Location of the Oracle
The site of Delphi is located in upper central Greece, on multiple plateaux/terraces along the slope of Mount Parnassus, and includes the Sanctuary of Apollo, the site of the ancient Oracle. This semicircular spur is known as Phaedriades, and overlooks the Pleistos Valley.
The Demise of the Oracle
In 480BCE the sanctuary was under attack by Persians, this time by Gauls. It’s was the 3rd century when the region came under control of the Aitolian League.
References:
http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/background/7_p1.html
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/08/0814_delphioracle.html