Delphi: The History of the Ancient Greek Sanctuary and Home to the World’s Most Famous Oracle

by Charles River Editors, Andrew Scott

*Includes pictures *Includes ancient accounts of Delphi *Includes a bibliography and online resources for further reading *Includes a table of contents “[T]he seat of the oracle is a cavern hollowed down in the depths…from which arises pneuma [breath, vapor, gas] that inspires a divine state of possession.” – Strabo, Geography 9.3.5 The ancient Greeks used a number of forms of divination to determine the future and seek advice from the gods as to which actions they should take in any given situation. The most popular of these ways to consult the Gods was through a visit to an oracle—usually a person—at a fixed shrine. The oldest of these Greek sites was at Dodona in Epirus, and while it continued to be a major oracle for the Greek world through antiquity, it was quickly overtaken by the oracle at Delphi as the most consulted by kings, politicians, and ordinary Greeks alike. Whereas the oracle at Dodona was of Zeus, that at Delphi was of Apollo. Over the years, the Delphic Oracle—located, it was believed, at the omphalos, the belly button of the world—came to such a position of preeminence that almost every major decision taken by any Greek polei in the Classical period involved a consultation with the god Apollo to ascertain whether the proposed action would be sanctioned by the gods. The format of the question was normally that of seeking approval for a proposition already decided upon, rather than an attempt to illicit instruction per se. Colonization decisions, political changes, and matters of religion were all subject to final approval from Delphi, delivered by the Pythia, the oracle through which the god was thought to speak. At an individual level and for those who could afford it, decisions on such matters as marriage, children, and business ventures were made after the oracle had spoken. The oracle’s influence on so many major events in the Archaic, Classical, and to a lesser extent, Hellenistic and Roman periods is without parallel in any other part of the world or time. For many years, academics struggled to identify why it was that this particular oracle—rather than the oldest or one dedicated to any of the major Olympians—came to play such a decisive role in the lives of Greeks in the ancient world. Delphi overlooks the Gulf of Corinth, and it is no wonder why the setting mesmerized contemporaries. The majestic, almost magical, aspect of the site, bordered by precipitous cliffs and craggy footpaths on a hillside that is dotted with deep, dark caves and lined by gargling streams of pure water, never fails to inspire a sense of awe and wonder in its visitors, even to this very day. Despite the oracle’s fame and popularity, however, modern knowledge of Delphi remains limited in certain respects. Cultic history has become so intertwined with cultic myth that the lines separating one from another have been nearly lost. Modern scholars studying the oracle of Delphi have tried to pull the shroud of mythology away from historical facts to illuminate the realities of the Apolline cult, but the job has often proved trickier than imagined. If anything, the work of scholars has deepened the mysticism of Delphi rather than dispel it, in large measure due to documenting fascinating and mysterious stories about the oracle. Certain aspects of the Delphic cult will likely always be impossible to describe with any degree of accuracy or certainty, despite scholars’ best attempts at imaginative reconstruction, because its foundation and function depended entirely upon religious belief in Apollo and his prophetic gift, which no amount of scholarship can fully explain.

Genres: Nonfiction

71 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 19, 2017

About the author

Charles River Editors is an independent publisher of thousands of ebooks on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Apple iBookstore & provider of original content for third parties.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good overview. Nice history including prior oracles. Good job.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should've been prepared for what I was in for before reading this short-but-dense book. It's dry, it's slow, and it feels like a lot of work to read about. But it's also a great book if you wanted to know more than you ever likely needed to about Delphi.

One cool thing I'll keep in mind is that the Greek god Apollo doesn't take no for an answer (and in many cases, not-so-cool): he apparently turned into a dolphin, found some sailors on a ship, and 'persuaded' them to become Delphic priests at his temple. Just a fun fact.

Etymology, mythology, historicity, archaeology, geography, literature, and more are all consulted to recreate the physical, spiritual, and cultural space of Delphi and all that made (and makes) it what it is.

[Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Golden Age of Delphi

Anything written about Delphi is always a reward to encounter. This book is short and to the point. Even though christianity tried to eradicate Delphi completely, they failed. This book covers the early history and a brief commentary on how prophecies were given. Delphi holds a level of sanctity that christianity will never approach.

[Manuel Gómez-Ortigoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

it offers a good factual account of the Oracle of Delphi

Good. Not extra ordinary. It conveys what Delphi was about and different versions of its origins and mode of operation.
It does not place Delphi within a time frame.
Also fails to describe the second nature of the site as a treasure warehouse for what was to become the Athenian league of city nations.