lesson 4- Delphi and the Delphic oracle

Question 1

what year is the sanctuary dated from?

Answer 1

6th Century BC

Question 2

what festivals were held at Delphi?

Answer 2

The Pythian games

Question 3

what are the two myths associated with delphi?

Answer 3

1. According to legend, Zeus wanted to find the centre of the universe so he sent two eagles from opposite ends of the universe, and the place where they met was delphi-the exact point where they met is marked with a stone named ‘omphalos’ the naval.
2. -the god Apollo sought to establish his sanctuary, and when he discovered Delphi, the site was guarded by python a serpent- Apollo killed the python and assumed control of the sanctuary, establishing it as an area of oracular consulation as he was the god of prophecy

Question 4

what marks the centre of the universe at delphi?

Answer 4

a stone also known as an ‘omphalos’- the naval

Question 5

what is the location like of Delphi?

Answer 5

1. located where everyone at Greece could go to it, including priests
2. The ancient Greeks called it the ‘omphalos’ meaning ‘the navel of the earth’
3. the whole site is built in the middle of the slope of a steep mountain known as mount Parnassus

Question 6

what was the sanctuary renowned for?

Answer 6

Its oracle, theatrical and athletic events as well as the Pythian games.

Question 7

why did Apollo establish himself as the god of the sanctuary of Delphi?

Answer 7

He was the god of prophecy

Question 8

who had control over the sanctuary?

Answer 8

no one- the local delphians had limited control over the sanctuary, they only provided personnel for the oracle, including pythia. However, the sanctuary was run by the Amphicytonic league.

Question 9

what was the Amphictyonic League?

Answer 9

-instead of being organised by the local Delphians, the sanctuary was run by the amphictyonic league, a local association of Greeks- this was important as delphi was a panhellenic sanctuary so all Greeks had the right to gather, worship and receive a source of information and guidance, therefore Delphi had to remain neutral.

Question 10

why was it so important that the Delphic oracle was neutral?

Answer 10

As a panhellenic sanctuary, where Greeks from all over the Greek-speaking world had the right to gather and worship and as a source of information and guidance for a variety of personal and political decisions, the oracle had to be as neutral as possible.

Question 11

what is an example of the delphic oracle being biast?

Answer 11

Towards the end of the 6th century BC, for example, herodotus suggests that a noble athenian family, the alcmaeonids had ‘bribed the pythian priestess to bid any spartan who should come to inquire her of her on a private or public matter account to ‘set Athens free’

Question 12

what did pilgrims travel to delphi for?

Answer 12

all the pilgrims that travelled to delphi had the purpose of seeking guidance from the oracle of delphi

Question 13

what was the Temenos?

Answer 13

the wall that surrounded the sanctuary of Delphi

Question 14

what was the castalian spring used for?

Answer 14

-all visitors stopped here to drink and cleanse themselves
-priests and priestesses (including the Pythia) also cleansed themselves here before interpreting oracles at the beginning of the day
-water from the castalian spring was used to sprinkle on the head of a goat to see whether the oracle could be consulted

Question 15

what was the sacred way flanked with?

Answer 15

with treasuries, stoas and monuments, set up by city states from all over the world- particularly Greek City states.

Question 16

what was the significance of the treasuries?

Answer 16

-they showcased and promoted city states successes, such as military victories. e.g the Athenians set up a monument to commemorate their victory against the persians at the battle of Marathon in 490 BC

Question 17

who else set up a treasury at Delphi?

Answer 17

The spartans set up a treasury facing the Athenian treasury to commemorate their victory against the Athenians at the end of the peloponnesian wars- it was three times the size of the Athenian treasury

Question 18

what was a treasury?

Answer 18

a small building resembling a small temple, where offerings from Greek city states could be stored as an offering to apollo.
-the treasury buildings could be considered an offering on their own- they were lavishly decorated with sculpture, and they commemorated an important event, such as a victory in war (e.g the Athenian treasury)

Question 19

what did some monuments at delphi reflect?

Answer 19

Unity and alliance- the serpent collumn commemorated when mainland Greece was threatened by the Persians and a number of Greek City states joined forces to fight the common enemy. This monument was dedicated to thank Apollo for his guidance and their successes. The name of the 31 city states who fought were inscribed on the monument but it also shamed those who had not joined the resistance.

Question 20

where was the treasury of the Athenians located?

Answer 20

at the turning point of the Sacred way where most worshippers were likely to rest. it’s prime location meant that they were able to promote themselves.

Question 21

who was the pythia and what did she do?

Answer 21

the oracle, a priestess of Apollo, known as the pythia was believed to possess the ability to communicate with the god and provide prophetic advice

Question 22

where is the theatre at Delphi positioned and placed?

Answer 22

-towards the sacred mountain range
-the theatre of Delphi locks into the natural geometry of the site- emphasises its importance

Question 23

what is the theatre of Delphi hidden by and why?

Answer 23

The theatre was completely hidden by the temple of Apollo at the main entrance- from further away, other structures blocked the theatre- this was to prevent a visual contrast between the two largest building masses on the site

Question 24

Theatre in Ancient Greece was…

Answer 24

connected to religious practises

Question 25

which building is the most important on the whole site of Delphi?

Answer 25

The temple of Apollo

Question 26

what do ancient authors tell us about the temple of Apollo?

Answer 26

-ancient authors tell us that you would enter the temple, and you would find a rocky chasm in the centre of the temple which emanated gases and vapours - here is where the Pythia, the priestess would sit on a tripod and enter on an ecstatic trance state, and interpreted the oracle as she inhaled the vapours that expelled from the chasm.

Question 27

who was the sanctuary of Athena pronaia dedicated to?

Answer 27

-dedicated the Athena Pronaia (meaning Athena ‘the one before’)

Question 28

what was the gymnasium and stadium used for?

Answer 28

used as a training ground for Athletes. Here, athletes prepared for the pythian games ( a prominent athletic and cultural competition) which were held at the delphi and were celebrated at the stadium (which was located to the northwest of the sanctuary of Apollo)

Question 29

which building is on the highest point of the site?

Answer 29

The stadium- remains one of the best preserved stadiums in Ancient Greece

Question 30

When did consultation of the Pythia take place?

Answer 30

Only took place on the first day of the month for 9 months as Apollo was absent for the remaining three months. Before the 6th Century BC, it is likely that consultation only took place on Apollo’s birthday. Considering that it was visited by people from all over the world, both by individuals and by representatives of city states, nine days per years was not very much. There was an alternative consultation, which took the form of a ‘lot oracle’ performed at the Corycian cave high above delphi. Here, questions enquiring a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer were posed and a black and white dice was cast to determine if the answer was positive or negative.

Question 31

how would the pythia find out whether consultation could occur that day?

Answer 31

The pythia would take water from the castalian spring and sprinkle it on the head of a goat- of the goat shuddered the oracle could be consulted with the influence of Apollo. The goat would then be sacrificed.

Question 32

what was a ‘lot oracle’?

Answer 32

an alternative consultation which took place at the corycian cave high above- Here, questions enquiring a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer were posed and a black and white dice was cast to determine if the answer was positive or negative.

Question 33

Describe the purification of the Pythia:

Answer 33

On the first day of every month, the pythia would purify herself and perform offerings to Apollo and priests would verify that divine consultation could proceed. Priests sprinkled water on the head of a goat and if it shuddered, Apollo consented to the consultation. The goat was then sacrificed on the altar to Apollo outside the temple so that all knew the oracle could be consulted.

Question 34

What is promanteia and how was the promanteia granted?

Answer 34

with only 9 days of the year open to consultation, consultants would have to be arranged into an order. Delphians/locals were always allowed to address the pythia first, then Chios, city-states, and non-Greeks. promanteia was granted by the amphicytony league the supreme council ( local association of Greeks) in charge of the sanctuary and oracle, based on the relationship a city or an individual may have had with delphi.

Question 35

Where would worshippers wait to be seen by the Pythia?

Answer 35

Whilst worshippers waited for their turn they would have assembled in buildings such as the stoa of athenians.

Question 36

what happened whilst waiting to be seen by the pythia?

Answer 36

Whilst worshippers waited for their turn they would have assembled in buildings such as the stoa of athenians. This was the perfect opportunity for meeting new people from all over the world and discussing ideas and queries. It was this sharing of information that made delphi such a special and unique place as intelligence would be gathered and debated in a politically neutral setting.

Question 37

What did worshippers have to do before meeting the Pythia?

Answer 37

the worshipper had to make a payment- they brought a pelanos, a small sacrificial cake that was burned on the altar which acted as a payment for the consultation. The prices were different for the state and individuals as well as the city the person was from- Athens for example paid more because it was wealthy. Certain individuals were also given the honour of not having to pay at all, such as king croesus of Lydia.

Question 38

What happened when it was the consultant’s turn to meet the Pythia?

Answer 38

The consultant then entered the temple when it was his turn- only men could address the pythia. They made a sacrifice and then went to where the pythia was waiting. It is unclear what happened at this stage, whether the consultant spoke directly to the pythia and was in the same room as her, how the pythia reached her state of ecstasy and to what extent her response was intelligible by non-priests.

Question 39

How did the Pythia become the mouthpiece of Apollo?

Answer 39

Some stated that she chewed on laurel leaves to reach a state of ecstasy. Others insisted that she inhaled vapours that emanated from the ground.

Question 40

Why did the ancient Greeks believe the Pythia? (3 reasons)

Answer 40

1.The economic, physical and time cost for individuals and city states to consult the oracle suggests that there must have been a genuine trust in and appreciation of the advice given by the oracle.

2. private consultants must have valued the journey as much as the response by the pythia. Creating the time to think through one’s options and discussing them with strangers, whom they would meet along the journey, the delphi itself, would certainly have helped them work through dilemmas and come to certain conclusions.
3. 3. State queries likely would have benefitted from the gathering of people from around the world. An Athenian, for example coming to consult the oracle about the impending Persian invasion might meet a Greek coming from northern Greece where Xerxes gathered his army before attacking. This sharing of information would certainly have benefitted statesmen who needed eye witness accounts to report home and base their decisions.