Introduction:
Apollo was a very unique god among the Greek pantheon and Delphi was one of his primary places of worship. Delphi was a very important location in Greece and across the Hellenistic world. Delphi became a sanctuary for hundreds of years influencing lands far from it. What Delphi is most famous for in contemporary time is the oracle of Apollo there. Apollo is most associated and is the prominent god of Delphi but Delphi and the its surrounding areas have a multitude of diverse spiritual associations attached to them. Dionysus is one of the gods who has myths centered in Delphi. One of the many uses of the oracle at Delphi had to do with politics and many times major events did not happen in Greece before consulting the oracle first. Due to the popularity of the oracle the complex at Delphi was extremely large because of the amount of gifts and sacrifices given. There was one main priestess the Pythia who was the connection to the god and who supposedly spoke his response to the questions given at the oracle.
Myth:
The Homeric Hymm to Apollo –
How Apollo picked Delphi
“From there you went rushing to a mountain ridge,
and you reached Krisa beneath snowy Parnassos,
a foothill looking westwards, with a rock glen
running below it. There the lord Phoibos Apollon
resolved to make a lovely temple and spoke these words:
“Here I intend to build a beautiful temple
to be an oracle for men who shall always
bring to this place unblemished hecatombs;
as many as dwell on fertile Peloponnesos
and on Europe and Throughout the sea-girt islands
will consult it. It is my wish to give them unerring
advice, making propheciews inside the Opulent temple.”
With these words Phoibos Apollo Laid out the Foundations,
Broad and very long from beginning to end; and on them
The sons of Erginos, Trophnios, and Agamedes,
Dear to the immortal gods, placed a threshold of stone.
And the numberless races of men built the temple all around
with hewn stones, to be a theme of song forever.
A more realistic scenario is a goat herder noticing vapor coming from the ground and affecting his sheep [1]. Also Ephorus’ version of the founding of the oracle at Delphi uses Apollo to fulfill “the panhellenic point of view of the historian, standing for humanity and virtue” [2].
Apollo also had to slay the Python, which was a dragon in the area. Apollo killed the Python and then sought out who was going to be the priests of his new oracle. Apollo chose Cretan pirates by jumping on their ship and revealing himself at the son of Zeus told them what he had planned for them.
“I brought you here over the vast and deep sea,
entertaining no evil thoughts, but here you shall have
my opulent temple, which is greatly honored by all men,
and you shall know the will of the immortals, by shoes wish
you shall be honored forever to the end of your days”
These priests became a sort of elite at Delphi always having status due to their special place as priests. Another significance of Delphi was that it was the center of the world where 2 doves were released and flew in opposite directions. In Parnassus, Delphi, and the Thyiades by Jeremy McIerney the author notes, “There is some archaeological evidence to support the notion of a mantic tradition in the region independent of Delphi” [3]. This shows how Delphi may have relevance beyond just that of what the Geeks thought of it as.
Myths of the Temples:
According to Christiane Sourvinou-Inwood in her essay The Myth of the First temples at Delphi there were 3 mythic temples that there may be some archaeological evidence to support their existence.
1st temple
Made of laurel and in the shape of a hut. While there is no structure at Delphi that is made of laurel there is another temple in Eretrian that was made of laurel and is also dedicated to Apollo. There may be some connection but the point is that “The concept of the laurel temple had a historical reality” [4]. Laurel is especially important being used in the oracular process by Pythia.
2nd temple
The myth surrounding the second temple was made of wax and feathers supposedly being made by bees and birds. The 2nd temple is more mythic than the first most likely being more symbolic than anything else. Apollo had association with birds and bees were associated with divinization, which were all aspects of the oracle at Delphi. The first two temples represent different sides of Delphi, which are the cultic and mythic aspects of the entire cult.
3rd temple
Entirely set in myth being “constructed by Hephaistos and Athena, the two craftsmen gods” then being destroyed [5]. Temple was supposedly made out of bronze and the author concludes that Pindar constructed this myth.
These myths essentially explain the entirety of what the cult at Delphi was symbolically. The oracle and the Pythia were extremely cultic in their practices while the surrounding area was very mythic. Apollo in many ways represents harmonization in nature and the mythos of the surrounding areas support his role in that. Laurel can be seen in the mythos of Delphi in the story of Apollo killing the dragon. After the dragon was killed Apollo crowned himself with laurel [6].
Surrounding Areas of Delphi:
The Delphic community and Mt. Parnassus shared a common bond through myth symbolizing order over chaos and the taming of the wilderness.
Mt. Parnassus
Even though Dionysus loomed large over the mythos of Mr. Parnassus it was not exclusive to him Apollo Lykeios was also associated with the mountain [7]. Apollo Lykeios is most connected with wolves and is prominent throughout the mythos of the land.
The author McInerney argues that the mythos of Apollo and Dionysus in the area are complimentary not opposing. It is a common theme throughout Greek mythology that Dionysus and Apollo play opposing and yet harmonious roles together as half brothers. Myths of Dionysus and Apollo are often inverted such as when Apollo was a dolphin leading pirates to Delphi while Dionysus was captured and in retaliation turned the crew into dolphins.
The Thyiades:
These were women worshippers of Dionysus at Delphi but it was also a common term used to describe nymphs in some cases. Typically women were used symbolically as opponents to order and generally man fears in the world. The Thyiades preformed rituals and ceremonies to Dionysus serving the community.
Corycian cave:
There can be an association made between the nymphs in the Corycian caves and the Thyiades but for the most part it is separate. Apollo, Pan, and other nymphs were all worshipped at this site. Though far away it is quite connected with the goings on at Delphi ritual wise. An interesting piece of information is that in the Corycian caves Apollo is only mentioned once with only a small nymphs being the center of what is left.
One thing about all these different aspects of Delphi is that they are all backed by mythic stories that associate symbolic meaning to the places. Mt. Parnassus and Dionysus have many mythic traditions spanning things such as The Odyssey and the Theogony. It is just quite interesting the level of depth that goes into a sanctuary like that of the one at Delphi.
Oracle at Delphi:
Process:
The priestess Pythia started by purifying herself with water and walked past many dedications to Apollo. Then the “Pythia is thus seated, surrounded by the most familiar symbols of the Pythian Apollo: his statues, the omphalos, the tripod, and the laurel. She is now inspired by the god and ready to give Apollo’s answers to the questions directed to her”[8]. Vapor coming from the ground was another aspect of the oracular process.
The Pythia:
The name of the oracle/priestess at Delphi who played a central role in Apollos’ cult came from the mythos behind Delphis’ founding. The story of Apollo killing the Python is the reason for the name behind specific names at Delphi. These priestesses serve for their entire lives and they were the ultimate connection between the god and reality. She lived in a particular house and remained chaste.
Priests:
One reason Apollo may have picked men from Crete is that they had traditionally been symbolized with purification from religious pollution. The priests who came after came from the lineage of the pirates. There were many different roles to be play at Delphi due to its size and popularity. There were only two main priests who were appointed for life to Apollo.
There was a fee to see the oracle and ask a question. Only males were allowed to ask the oracle, which is interesting because the priestess is a female. There was a process of payment then sacrifice in order to partake in the oracle. Even the questions that were asked were asked by the priests not whoever was asking.
Possession and divination:
“Not one ancient source suggest that alone other than the Pythia issued oracular responses” [9]
Though it is highly debated the above quote shows how the primary sources disagree with this contemporary thought. The process of possession that the Pythia went through involved many methods where consciousness is altered. Whether it was vapors, laurel, or hypnotism it is entirely clear whether the priestess actually consciously answered the inquires.
Maurizino says Giulia Sissa finds a parallel between the Pythia’s posture on a tripod over an abyss emitting vapors and the medical treatment of hysteria, and argues that his posture represents the sexual nature of Apollo’s possession” [10]. This points to an interesting facet of the oracle at Delphi and the Greek world as a whole. This is the fact that women played a major role in the religious sector of life but was very marginalized in the rest of society. The Priestesses held a powerful position for women in society and that could lead to the question of why that was. At Delphi the case was tradition and myth that allowed the priestess to gain much more influence than what would likely have been available otherwise.
Maurizino aslso says the Pythias’s behavior at Delphi “falls comfortably into Plato’s typology about the effects of spirit possession on human behavior. She, like the seers, is credited with making prophetic utterances. Perhaps more importantly, she, like the poets, is always depicted as coherent and articulate, fluent and knowledgeable almost beyond comprehension, when she recites her oracles, some of which were in verse. All these features of her performances indicate that the divine was working in or near her” [11]. This quote shows the legitimacy to the trance state of the Pythia at Delphi.
Purposes:
There were many reason why people came and inquired at Delphi over hundreds of years. Delphi was very successfully domestically and internationally. What it was involved in was colonization, arbitration, and panhellenism [12]. Cicero writes “What colony did Greece ever send out to Aeolia, Ionia, Asia, Sicily, or Italy without consulting the Pythian or Dononian oracle” [13]. Colonization was constantly a question for the oracle showing the influence that Delphi had on the spread of panhellenism. The founding of cults and other religious questions were also often proposed to the oracle.
Many political inquires were given to the oracle asking for advice on things ranging from military to social problems. Catherine Morgan says, “Oracles… enable community authorities to se divine sanction to achieve a consensus of opinion over difficult, often unprecedented, and potentially divisive decisions” [14].
During the Peloponnesian War Delphi became close with Sparta telling them they would win the war. There is evidence to suggest that this closeness led to Athens aversion to Delphi. Another example of Delphis influence was during the Persian invasion in which the oracle told them to defend themselves behind the “wooden wall”. The Athenians took this to mean using their navy leading to a great victory at Salamis that changed the invasion.
The temple at Delphi complex was vast from the amount of dedications given there. King Croesus is an example of someone dedicating much with little reward. After sacrificing and giving many gifts Croesus wants to know whether he should invade Persia. Of course he misunderstands the oracles realizing that in the end Delphi spoke of a Persian victory and his defeat not the other way around like he had thought.
The Pythian Games:
These games were to celebrate the slaying of the Python every eight years. There were religious, athletic, and musical events at this festival. The Pythian hieromenia was a truce that lasted for a year in order to give people safe passage to the games. The festival lasted five days with two religious days and three for contests. One of the most important parts of the festival was the musical contest that took place that lead to rivalries among the participants. Another reason for the importance of the games was the role it had in building a common identity among panhellenistic peoples who all had the same understanding as to what made Delphi special.
Conclusion:
When it comes to Delphi and all the different religious happenings associated with the area it is hard to separate reality from myth. That being said it would seem that Delphi has had a profound impact of Greece as a whole whether it be political or religious. Apollos role in Delphi is complicated but it is rather obvious that he is the main spiritual connection to the land. There is less known about the oracle at Delphi then I would have thought. That being said what is there is very interesting and shows the diversity of beliefs among the Greek people. Delphi was showered with gifts throughout the centuries and was rebuilt more than a few times yet it continued to influence the panhellenic world for hundreds of years outlasting many Greek beliefs. It is fascinating learning about a widely known place and being able to understand it from an academic perspective.
Notes
[1] Valavanis, Panos. “Games and Sanctuaries in Ancient Greece: Olympia, Delphi, Isthmia, Nemes, Athens”. Getty Publications 2004
[2] Avagianou, Aphrodite. “Ephorus On The Founding Of Delphi’s Oracle.” Greek, Roman And Byzantine Studies 39.(1998): 136. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials.
[3] McInerney, Jeremy. “Parnassus, Delphi, And The Thyiades.” Greek, Roman And Byzantine Studies 38.3 (1997): 268. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials. Web
[4] Sourvinou-Inwood, Christiane. “The Myth of the First Temples at Delphi,” The Classical Quarterly, New Series 29.2 (1979): 236
[5] IBID, 246
[6] IBID, 236
[7] McInerney, 266
[8] Mikalson, Jon D. Ancient Greek Religion. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2010. pg 98
[9] L. Maurizio. “Anthropology and spirit possession: A reconsideration of the Pythia’s role at Delphi”. The Journal of Hellenic Studies, 115, pp 69 (1995).
[10] IBID, 78
[11] IBID, 79
[12] McInerney, 236
[13] Warrior, Valerie M. Greek Religion: A Sourcebook. Newburyport, MA: Focus Publishing, 2009. 5.23
[14] Arnush, Michael. “Pilgrimage To The Oracle Of Apollo At Delphi: Patterns Of Public And Private Consultation.” Pilgrimage in Graeco-Roman & early Christian antiquity. 100. Oxford: Oxford Univ Pr, 2005. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials.
Annotated Bibliography
Arnush, Michael. “Pilgrimage To The Oracle Of Apollo At Delphi: Patterns Of Public And Private Consultation.” Pilgrimage in Graeco-Roman & early Christian antiquity. 97-110. Oxford: Oxford Univ Pr, 2005. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials.
The chapter of this book is mainly about the decrease in the popularity at Delphi. He relates Delphis downfall to that of the polis in Greek life. Delphi went through a series of conquests where their loyalty changed a lot leading to distrust. Also there were many refugees from all of the different wars going on. This article focuses on the 5th century before Common Era and the events at that time. One of the most telling lines comes from the end of the article where the Athenians consulted a different oracle in the Third Sacred War.
Avagianou, Aphrodite. “Ephorus On The Founding Of Delphi’s Oracle.” Greek, Roman And Byzantine Studies 39.(1998): 121-136. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials.
Ephorus writes his own histories that is steeped in realism more so than myth. In this perspective Ephorus offers a fresh viewpoint but it seems that sometimes he seems to contradict true history by discounting myth. The authors goal is to show how Ephorus may not be entirely factually correct he still holds importance. The reason for this importance is that his views reflect that of the society he lived in. The article shows how Apollos mythos was changed in order to be more palpable with the people of the time.
Graf, Fritz. “Apollo, Possession, And Prophecy.” Christian body, Christian self. 299-310. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2011. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials.
This book chapter examines the aspect of possession in the Delphic oracle. There are many connections with more contemporary examples of spiritual possession made in the chapter. It is interesting to try to understand the divination and mind frame of the oracle at Delphi in a broader context. The Pythia is described as a medium in her communication with the god Apollo. The core of the authors’ paper is the state of mind the Pythia is in when she gives the oracle.
Huffmon, Herbert B. “The Oracular Process: Delphi And The Near East.” Vetus Testamentum 57.4 (2007): 449-460. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials.
This essay gives a broader look at Delphi within the ancient near east as well as with the Greek world. There are many differences between ancient near east prophetic traditions and that to the one at Delphi. The Pythia had a role to play in many major Greek events normally having a direct influence in one way or another. There are some parallels between the prophetic traditions of the ancient near east and Delphi but not many. One of the differences talked about is that near east spiritual revelations were initiated by the deity unlike that at Delphi where people inquired a question.
L. Maurizio. “Anthropology and spirit possession: A reconsideration of the Pythia’s role at Delphi”. The Journal of Hellenic Studies, 115, pp 69-86 (1995).
The goal of the authors essay is to prove the legitimacy of the Pythia and what she said. The main issue is whether or not the Pythia was actually consciously giving her prophetic oracles. There is no ancient evidence against these claims it is only in contemporary times when these questions arose. It is fairly obvious the fear is that by discrediting the Pythia women’s role in ancient Greece is once again almost nonexistent.
McInerney, Jeremy. “Parnassus, Delphi, And The Thyiades.” Greek, Roman And Byzantine Studies 38.3 (1997): 263-283. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials. Web
This essay discusses the surrounding areas of Delphi and the religious significance they have. These include Dionysus on Mt. Parnassus and the role he played in other cultic groups in the area. Another place that is discussion is the Corycian cave where Nymphs and even the god Pan are said to have been apart of the worship. The author also talks about the harmonious nature of Apollo and Dionysus are portrayed in the mythic traditions of the land.
Mikalson, Jon D. Ancient Greek Religion. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2010.
Mikalson gives a great overview of the entirety of Greek religion. It helps ones understanding of personal and society as a whole views on religion in ancient Greece. There was
Sourvinou-Inwood, Christiane. “The Myth of the First Temples at Delphi,” The Classical Quarterly, New Series 29.2 (1979): 231-251
This essay is about the various myths surrounding the first temples at Delphi. Pausanias and Pindar are two of the historians cited in the essay. Many times Pindar represented the more mythic cultic traditions of history while Pausanias stayed in the more realistic realm. The author argues for these mythological stories to be reflections of the society that came up with them and what they were trying to do with the tradition.
a lot of information about Delphi and the cult of Apollo located there.
Valavanis, Panos. “Games and Sanctuaries in Ancient Greece: Olympia, Delphi, Isthmia, Nemes, Athens”. Getty Publications 2004
The chapter I read about Delphi is very interesting and informative. The author talks about the origin of the oracle at Delphi but also the roots of Apollo in the area. Another thing it went over was the Pythian Games and all the aspects that go with holding such a large event. Delphi was traveled to for hundreds of years because people like Plutarch understood the importance of going there. It goes over the oracular process and the roles that many people played in the running of the oracle at Delphi.
Warrior, Valerie M. Greek Religion: A Sourcebook. Newburyport, MA: Focus Publishing, 2009.
This sourcebook is great for primary resources from a multitude of authors. There are prefaces to every primary source giving context to what you are reading. The source book has topics on just about all aspects of Greek religion. The primary sources on Apollo and Delphi were really helpful giving context to the way the oracle was actually used and thought of.
