Greece is the epicenter of all Western culture. The history of the Greeks is the "central link" of today's civilization. The most important center of the Apollo cult in Greece was the Delphi, a religious center with the temple and oracle of Apollo.
The ancient Greek word Delphi - "Δελφοί" has the Indo-European root "δελφύς, which means" womb "," womb "," womb ". From here comes the dolphin - "newborn baby", "uterine". Perhaps this name is due to the fact that the Navel of the Earth was located not far from the Temple of Apollo.
According to a number of historians and writers of the past, the ancients depicted the ecumene (the part of the world mastered by mankind) as round, in the middle lies Hellas, and in the middle of Hellas - Delphi. They are the Navel of the Earth.
The Iliad of the ancient Greek poet and storyteller Homer says that King Minos established the cult of Apollo of Delphi in memory of the help of the dolphins who led his ships from Crete to Greece. Legends say that the busiest sea routes of those times, the so-called "Apollo Trails", were also laid by dolphins.
The ruins of ancient Delphi are located on the southwestern slope of Mount Parnassus at an altitude of 700 m above sea level. According to Greek mythology, in Delphi, at the temple, on the site of the victory of Apollo over the serpent Python, Apollo founded the Delphic oracle, which was in charge of the priestess (Pythia).
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Delphi's religious significance dates back to Mycenaean times. The ancient Greek writer and geographer Pausanias in his "Description of Hellas" tells about four successively built temples of Delphi: from laurel wood, from wax and feathers, from copper and stone. Stone temple, built in the middle of the 7th century. BC, burned down, rebuilt was destroyed by an earthquake, the present ruins are the remains of a structure from the middle of the 4th century BC.
Since Apollo was considered the patron saint of newly founded cities, it was customary to turn to the oracle before starting a new expedition. Thanks to this, the Temple of Apollo was the center of Greek colonial policy, which was controlled by the priests of the oracle. On the pediment of the temple were the sayings of the Seven Sages: "Know thyself" and "nothing beyond measure."
The heyday of the Delphic Oracle dates back to the 7th-5th centuries. BC, when he mediated in interpolis conflicts. It was customary for the Hellene to turn to the oracle on all important issues of public and private life. The "sword" of the temple was Sparta.
The weakening of the temple's influence began during the Greco-Persian wars, when Delphi sided with the Persians, planning to become the religious center of the Persian Empire.
During the Roman rule, the temple kept monetary contributions from different regions of the Mediterranean. The temple was plundered several times, and under the emperor Theodosius, in 391 AD. it was finally closed.
Divinations by the Delphic oracle were given once a year: on Apollo's birthday (mid-February - mid-March), when he was returning from the Hyperboreans. Since the VI century. BC. divination began to be carried out monthly on the seventh, except for the three winter months, when Apollo was visiting the Hyperboreans, and even later - every day. During the prophecies, the Pythia, a priestess-soothsayer, fell into a narcotic ecstasy, uttering vague individual phrases and muttering, which were recorded and interpreted by the priests of the temple.
Legends say that when the father of Pythagoras, Mnesarch the Samos, along with his young wife who was expecting a child, found himself during his trade trip to Delphi, he asked the oracle about his future voyage to Phenicia. The Oracle predicted to him that his wife would give birth to a son who would become known for his wisdom, bringing the human race "the greatest benefit for all time." It was then that Mnesarchus gave his wife the name Pythaida in honor of the Delphic prophetess Pythia.
The Greeks believed that the human world is closely related to the world of the gods. The appeal to the will of the gods arose every time there was a need to cope with the troubles caused by the natural elements, crop failure, disaster, and the oracle's prophecies became a guide to action. The Greeks loved to talk about their gods and their interference in worldly affairs. These tales and legends gave rise to a rich mythology, from which Greek poets, painters, sculptors, philosophers drew plots for their works.
Although the ancient world of Greece was inhabited by gods, the Greek people, nevertheless, listened to oracles, magicians, pythias, sibyls. The Pythia was considered the direct medium (instrument) of Apollo. For the first time, Herodotus mentioned the Pythias in his writings. Historians believe that at first the prophets in Greece were men, and from the second half of the VIII century BC. - women. The ancient Greek philosopher Plutarch also visited Delphi as a priest of Apollo.
Delphi actively intervened in the political life of the Greek city-states, appearing on the stage in the most difficult moments of Greek history, associated with internecine wars, the withdrawal of colonies, the adoption of new laws, government decisions or coups. In addition, temple centers like the Delphic one played an important role as guardians of traditional wisdom, accumulated experience, treasures and capital. The oracles played an important role in the political struggle between the largest Greek city-states - Athens and Sparta.
In the middle of the 5th century. BC. disagreements between Sparta and Athens led to a war between them. At the same time, the Phokid Union, which was an ally of Athens in Central Greece, claimed its hegemony in Delphi and repeatedly tried to seize them. In 356 BC. e. Phokidians seized and removed the temple riches of the common Greek shrine - the Temple of Apollo in Delphi - 10 thousand talents of gold and silver accumulated in the temple for several hundred years.
History itself is unthinkable without myths. Echoes of the influence of oracles today can be seen in the predictions of numerous sociologists, political scientists, magicians and predictors. Greek mythology shows us how humanity thought and felt itself many centuries ago.
Author: Valentina Zhitanskaya