Personal: Dodona Flashcards
Give some context on Dodona?
Where is it, when does it date back to and who is worshiped there
- Located in Epirus NW Greece
- oldest Hellenic oracle worship dates back to the 2nd millennium BCE
- Zeus and his consort Dione
Who administered the oracle at Dodona ?
Priestesses interpreted Zeus will through the rustling leaves of the sacred oak trees
What is the archaeological evidence ?
Shows continuous usage from Bronze Age through to the Roman period
How many lead tablets have been found at the site and what would have been written on these ?
Over 4,000
These were written on thin lead strips with topics ranging from marriage and business to politics and health
What did local residents have the right to ?
Promanetia
- they could go ahead of foreigners the Xenos
What are some examples of questions ?
- was it pistols that stole the wool from the bed mattress
- should I migrate to Chalkis
- did my eyes take sick because I have neglected you
- Kittos asks if he will be set free from being a slave
- 3rd Century Ariston asked wether to migrate to Syracuse
What does Odyssey 14 say about the site ?
- Odysseus went to Dodona to learn from Zeus how he should return wether in open or secret
What does Odyssey 19 say about Dodona ?
- the same as book 14 wether he should return in secret or openly
How do we know that the oracular response emanated from the resulting leaves of the oak or from doves sitting in the trees ?
Herodotus and Hesiod both mention this
What does Herotus say about Dodona ?
The shrine was established when a black dove settled on a oak and declared the place sacred to Zeus
Also informs us that Priestesses were invoked at Dodona
What does Pausanias say about Dodona ?
The Athenians received word from Zeus on how to deal with the Lacedaeminians
What is a problem with the questions ?
They often give us a glimpse of the individuals fate and concerns but never the context
