The Oracle of Delphi

To consult the Oracle of Delphi, click on the sphere below.

Shortly after the God Apollo was born, he killed the serpent god Python. Python was an old god of prophesy, and his oracle was located in the city of Delphi at the base of mount Parnassus. Apollo won this oracle for himself, and therefore became a god of prophesy, but first, he had to cleanse himself of his crime of murder. Apollo's oracle at Delphi, was the only oracle that was not exclusively national, for it was consulted by many outside nations, and, in fact, was held in the highest repute all over the world. In obedience to its decrees, the laws of Lycurgus were introduced, and the earliest Greek colonies founded. No cities were built without first consulting the Delphic oracle, for it was believed that Apollo took special delight in the founding of cities, the first stone of which he laid in person; nor was any enterprise ever undertaken without inquiry at this sacred oracle as to its probable success

A woman known as the Pythoness was the organ of inspiration, and it was generally believed that she delivered her oracles under the direct influence of the god. The divine possession worked like an epileptic seizure, and was exhausting and might be dangerous. This communion with the divinity needed careful preparation. Originally, as it seems, virginity was a condition of the tenure of the office. But later the rule was established that a married woman over fifty years of age should be chosen, with the proviso that she should be attired as a maiden.

As a preliminary to the divine possession, she appears to have chewed leaves of the sacred laurel, and then to have drunk water from the prophetic stream called Kassotis which flowed underground. But the culminating point was reached when she seated herself upon the tripod; and here she was inspired by a mystic vapour that arose from a fissure in the ground.

One man who went on a voyage to another of Apollo's oracles, was met by a horrible storm, and died at sea. But through his faithful wife's prayers to Hera, the goddess took steps to send a message to the dead man's shade. For this task she enlisted the help of Some of the gods of the underworld. This unusual husband and wife were named
Ceyx and Halcyone

TheRiverStyx.net