Oracles in the Ancient Greek World
Chris Callahan 12/16/02 FIYS Greek Professor Fisher Oracles in the Ancient Greek World Oracles are defined in Webster’s dictionary as: “A priest or priestess who acted as a medium for divine advice or prophesy.” The ancient Greeks were always looking for guidance for all the problems in their lives. “Unlike many believers in the modern world who are guided by the Bible, the Koran or the holy books of Eastern religions, the Greeks had no suck sacred writings” (Internet 2). ... Most oracles were considered to be words from the gods. ... Most of the oracles that were given were dedicated to Apollo. This oracle was the most influential oracle in the ancient world; the temple is on Mount Parnassus, north of the Gulf of Corinth. The Greeks believe this to be the middle of the world. ... This was the symbol of being the middle of the world. According to Herodotus, a Greek historian, the oracle was delivered by Apollo’s priestess, the Pythia. ... The oracles that were delivered at Delphi had some kind of political impact. ... In ancient Greece women were not respected at all but in the oracle a women was occupying the primary position in the oracle.