People in ancient Greece believed that their life was predetermined. However, everyone wanted to know what the future holds for them. For the answer, the Greeks went to the oracles. For several hundred years, the voice of these soothsayers was decisive in everything, from everyday troubles to issues of urban planning and the outbreak of wars.
Apollo plays the lyre. 1st century AD e.
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In ancient times, a clairvoyant was called an oracle, or predictions uttered by him. The most famous in Ancient Greece was the Delphic Oracle in the Temple of Apollo. Pythias-diviners served there. At first, virgins were appointed pythias, but after the scandal with the seduction of one of them by a visitor, the young priestesses were replaced by mature women, so as not to spoil their reputation.
Delphic pythia. John Collier, 1891
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The Pythia prepared in advance for the predictions: she observed the fast for three days, took a bath in the spring and put on expensive clothes. The priestess was seated on a huge golden tripod set over a rift in the ground, from where steam came, surrounding the woman in a dense haze.
Delphic oracle. Image on a vase
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In addition to the steam coming out of the bowels of the earth, incense was lit around the pythia. She, fanned by intoxication, fell into ecstasy and began to broadcast. The predictions of the pythia were more like an incoherent mutter, which the priests then deciphered. "Do not burn vessels in the furnace" meant "do not burn people in the tower." "You will find your horse" - the visitor who heard this prediction was overtaken by death in a town called Ippos (translated as "Horse").
It was amazing how accurately the oracles predicted the outcome of future political events. Modern skeptics argue that visionaries had an extensive network of informants who monitored the political situation in the country.
Delphic Oracle
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Alexander asks for advice from the oracle of the god Apollo
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But what about those people who came to the oracles with pressing questions. More than 500 recorded prophecies have survived to this day, and most of them were incredibly accurate. Once Alexander the Great went to the oracle for a prophecy. He had to wait a very long time. When his turn came, the Pythia refused to accept him, since the month was not suitable for predictions. Then the conqueror destroyed all the guards, pulled the priestess off the tripod by the hair and pulled her to the exit, until she exclaimed: "Let me go, they are invincible!" And contented Alexander left the temple peacefully.
Ruins of the temple of the god Apollo in Delphi
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The Delphi Temple lasted until AD 390. e. The Roman emperor Theodosius I, who professed Christianity, destroyed it as a stronghold of paganism.