Delphic Oracle - Oracle of Delphic region

Oracle

Apart from Delphi, we know that oracles existed in Dodona, Trophonios, Claros and Didyma. Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles and Herodotus mentioned in their works oracles and the way they functioned. From them we know that they have played an important role and that the Delphi oracle was the most famous. Many political leaders asked the oracle’s advice before taking a decision, which indicated the crucial role it played not only in ever day life but also in political affairs.
Oracles where established at places that enjoyed a special sanctity according to ancient Greek beliefs. Elevations, springs, caves and places struck by lightning are some of the signs, we know, that were enough to characterize a place sacred. For example the oracle of Dodona (in Northwest Greece) was established after a lightning (symbol of the father of gods Dias/Zeus) hit an oak tree (another symbol of Dias/Zeus).


		Here are some examples that show the ambiguity of the prophecies: During the Persian Wars ( Persia is where Iran is today located) the oracle was alarmist, even defeatist. It did not, however, rule out the possibility of a Greek victory and enigmatically declared that the “sons of men: would be "devoured" at sea. The Persians- "sons of men" indeed- suffered a crushing defeat in the naval battle of Salamis in 480 BC and the tide of conquest by the Asiatic hordes was halted. King Croesus of Lydia before attacking Persia according to Herodotus consulted Delphi and was told “If you do, you will destroy a great empire". Believing the response was favorable, Croesus attacked, but it was his own empire that was ultimately destroyed by the Persians. The oracle also allegedly proclaimed Socrates the wisest man in Greece, to which Socrates said that if so, this was because he alone was aware of his own ignorance. Alexander the Great visited the Delphic Oracle wishing to hear a prophecy that he would soon conquer the entire ancient world. To his surprise the oracle refused a direct comment and asked him to come later. Furious, Alexander the Great dragged Pythia by the hair out of the chamber until she screamed "Let go of me; you’re unbeatable". The moment hearing this words he dropped her, saying "Now I have my answer"

The Delphic Oracle was the means through which worshipers could hear the words of god Apollo, spoken through a priestess (Sybil) Pythia, who was over 50 years old. Pythia was always a woman that was chosen by a male priest of the oracle. Characteristic of the oracle of Delphi is the Castalian Spring. Questioners paid a levy called in Greek "pelanos" and sacrificed an animal at the altar. The question was then put to Pythia by the male priest. It has to be mentioned that the only one who could see and communicate with Pythia was this priest- the questioner had no eye contact. The Pythia would answer in a trance, perhaps introduced by the vaporous from a crack in the ground over which she sat on tripod combined with the laurel leaves she was chewing. Her incantations were interpreted by the priest and were almost always ambiguous.

Many people confuse the temple of Athena/Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, with the temple of Apollo, where the famous oracle was located. This happens, from my point of view, because the sanctuary of Athena/Minerva and particularly the tholos (dome) behind it, due to the fact that it is well preserved, is depicted in all the photos associated with Delphi. On the contrary we do not see that often photos of the sanctuary of Apollo, which though bigger, is nowadays in, let’s call it, “bad condition”