Famous world leaders consulted on matters of conquest. Farmers consulted the Oracle on matters as simple as planting and harvest. Later this changed to the goddess Themis and, finally, Apollo was determined to be presiding over Delphi.įor over a millennia people traveled to the hill to consult the Oracle. When the profits of the Oracle began to decline it was declared that Poseidon was speaking through her. The divine nature and associated deity changed a few times over the course of several centuries. Delphi became a center for banking and commerce. The Delphic temple itself became one of the largest "banks" in the world. Presents were brought to both placate the deity and in the hope of influencing a positive prophesy. Priests interpreted the incoherent utterances of the Pythia.
Temples were built and rebuilt, priests were trained, rituals evolved and sacrifices were performed. But after one of the virgins escaped with a young Thessalian it was decreed no prophetess (also called the Pythoness or the Pythia) would be appointed under 50 years of age.Ī booming industry grew up around the Oracle. Originally, the perfect candidate was considered to be a young virgin girl. So a tripod was built and an individual was appointed to sit over the chasm and prophesy. But the gas was so disorienting some fell into the cavern and were lost. Other people began inhaling the vapors so that they could prophesy. The effects of the brain altering vapors,were ultimately attributed to a divine source. At least that is how the legend goes on the humble beginnings of the Oracle at Delphi.
He looked in and found himself "agitated like one frantic". Around 1400 BCE a goat herder noticed his sheep acted strange after peering into a particular chasm on Mount Parnassus.