Illustration of the Priestess at the Oracle of Delphi
Abstract:
In a time where people looked to the gods with questions, the Oracle at Delphi would answer them. The Oracle at Delphi shaped a religion, provided political advice, served as a cultural focal point, and influenced history even through change and continuity. At first, the Oracle belonged to the early religious cult which worshiped mother Earth, Gaia, and later changed to the reign of the Greek god Apollo. The second change was becoming more prominent in politics. The third change was the Oracle decline due to the validity of the prophecies and the rise of Christianity. Continuity is seen that it gave prophecies even though its main function changed various times. Also, the idea of predicting the future has continued with mankind because even in modern times, people, at times, put faith in predicting the future. Some forms of modern day 'oracles' include fortune tellers, fortune cookies, and magic eight balls.
Primary Source: The Omphalos Stone of Delphi
The Omphalos Stone
In Ancient Greece, the Oracle of Delphi played an important role in society. In the Temple of Apollo, which was in proximity to a fault and spring in Delphi, the pythia, the prophetic priestess, would speak her prophecy. People, not only from ancient Greece, but from Persia too, on would come and ask her their questions. She would respond in a riddle, with the questioner having to comprehend her prophecy.
The pythia's place in the temple was in a room off to the side, the Adyton, where ethylene fumes would consume her and she would then begin her prophetic trance. In this room there was a stone, the Omphalos Stone, which was placed in the center of the room (Omphalos in Greek means center). It was believed that "where it stood was ... the center of the world" and that it "marked the spot where Apollo first established his oracle by driving the serpent monster Python into the Earth (=Gaia)" (1).
This stone represents the mythological connection of the Oracle of Delphi to the Ancient Greek gods. It was believed that Apollo controlled the Oracle and through the pythia he gave his prophecies. This Omphalos Stone was not the original stone found in the Adyton; originally the stone was a meteorite (1).
2. "Delphi Museum." Ancient-Greece.org. 2008. 12 Nov 2008 <http://www.ancient-greece.org/museum/muse-delphi.html>. * The original website I was to use but was unable to access was that of the Hellenic Culture of Ministry
The Oracle at Delphi
Abstract:
In a time where people looked to the gods with questions, the Oracle at Delphi would answer them. The Oracle at Delphi shaped a religion, provided political advice, served as a cultural focal point, and influenced history even through change and continuity. At first, the Oracle belonged to the early religious cult which worshiped mother Earth, Gaia, and later changed to the reign of the Greek god Apollo. The second change was becoming more prominent in politics. The third change was the Oracle decline due to the validity of the prophecies and the rise of Christianity. Continuity is seen that it gave prophecies even though its main function changed various times. Also, the idea of predicting the future has continued with mankind because even in modern times, people, at times, put faith in predicting the future. Some forms of modern day 'oracles' include fortune tellers, fortune cookies, and magic eight balls.Primary Source: The Omphalos Stone of Delphi
In Ancient Greece, the Oracle of Delphi played an important role in society. In the Temple of Apollo, which was in proximity to a fault and spring in Delphi, the pythia, the prophetic priestess, would speak her prophecy. People, not only from ancient Greece, but from Persia too, on would come and ask her their questions. She would respond in a riddle, with the questioner having to comprehend her prophecy.
The pythia's place in the temple was in a room off to the side, the Adyton, where ethylene fumes would consume her and she would then begin her prophetic trance. In this room there was a stone, the Omphalos Stone, which was placed in the center of the room (Omphalos in Greek means center). It was believed that "where it stood was ... the center of the world" and that it "marked the spot where Apollo first established his oracle by driving the serpent monster Python into the Earth (=Gaia)" (1).
This stone represents the mythological connection of the Oracle of Delphi to the Ancient Greek gods. It was believed that Apollo controlled the Oracle and through the pythia he gave his prophecies. This Omphalos Stone was not the original stone found in the Adyton; originally the stone was a meteorite (1).
Works Consulted:
1. Davies, S. "The Omphalos stone from Delphi." University of Texas at Austen. 27 Feb 2007. University of Texas at Austen. 12 Nob 2008 <http://www.utexas.edu/courses/introtogreece/lect16/img8omphalos.htm
2. "Delphi Museum." Ancient-Greece.org. 2008. 12 Nov 2008 <http://www.ancient-greece.org/museum/muse-delphi.html>.
* The original website I was to use but was unable to access was that of the Hellenic Culture of Ministry
3. "The Oracle at Delphi." PBS. PBS. 12 Nov 2008 <http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/background/7_p1.html>.
4. "Oracle of Delphi Secrets Revealed" DVD from the History Channel
My Creation: