Delphic Sibyl

Delphic Oracle, at Delphi, the most important oracle in Greece, belonging to the god Apollo. In his temple the priestess of Apollo, known as the Pythia, speaking under the inspiration supposedly of the god, answered questions put to her by worshippers. The Pythia was over the age of 50 when she was appointed, and thereafter lived a secluded and dedicated life; how she was selected is never explained, but the Delphian authorities may have chosen her from among a band of holy women whose task it was to tend the hearth in the temple (see DELPHI). When prophesying the Pythia sat on a tall tripod similar in style to the cooking utensil (i.e. three metal legs supporting a bowl), said in late antiquity to be placed over a chasm from which fumes were exhaled (but for which there seems to be no archaeological or classical evidence). Plutarch records that in early times the Pythia gave oracles on only one day a year, in early spring; at a later date, perhaps in the sixth century BC, on one day a month, with the exception of the three winter months which the god spent with the Hyperboreans. The day had to be declared auspicious by the priests, after they had tested the omens. Each enquirer, or indeed anyone who was in Delphi for a religious purpose, was required first to purify himself. It seems that the enquirer addressed his question to the Pythia directly and was answered directly, occasionally in verse, more often in prose. A priest or prophētēs (‘mouthpiece’) may have been in charge of the proceedings, and may even have ‘interpreted’ the Pythia's response, or put it into hexameter form. An enquirer might have let the priest know his question in advance, especially if bribery of the priests or Pythia was involved. With the reply, the consultation ended.

The impressiveness of the wild scenery at Delphi as well as of the ritual no doubt contributed to the importance of Apollo's oracle. In religion its authority was for many centuries supreme, especially in the matter of cult laws and institutions. Every four years, at the Pythian games, Delphi was the centre for a panhellenic concourse. In Hellenistic times its decline began. Some of the functions of Delphi were taken over by defunct oracles in Asia and Europe which were revived after Alexander the Great had destroyed Persian domination. Sharp decline did not set in until the first centuries BC and AD as a consequence of increasing secularism and perhaps because of the rising interest in astrology. The oracle enjoyed a brief revival under the emperor Hadrian, but by the time of the fervently pagan Julian (emperor AD 360–3), it was beyond resuscitation as its last message to the emperor, reported by a later historian, makes clear: ‘Tell the emperor that the finely wrought hall is fallen to the ground; no longer has Phoebus his shelter, nor his prophetic laurel, nor his babbling spring; the water of speech is dried up.’

The most famous oracle in Greece, and the location of a temple of Apollo; it was also known as the oracle of Delphi. At the oracle, a priestess went into a trance, supposedly breathed vapors from a cleft in the rocks, and delivered messages from Apollo to persons who sought her advice. These messages were often difficult to interpret.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: (Greek mythology) the oracle at Delphi where a priestess supposedly delivered messages from Apollo to those who sought advice; the messages were usually obscure or ambiguous
  Synonyms: Temple of Apollo, Oracle of Apollo, oracle of Delphi

Michelangelo's rendering of the Delphic Sibyl

The Delphic Sibyl was a legendary figure who made prophecies in the sacred precinct of Apollo at Delphi, on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. According to a late source, her mother was Lamia, daughter of Poseidon.^[1] The Delphic Sibyl was not involved in the operation of the Delphic Oracle and should be considered distinct from the Pythia, the priestess of Apollo.

There were several prophetic figures called Sibyls in the Graeco-Roman world. The most famous Sibyl was located at Cumae. There are a number of legends about the Delphic Sibyl, though they are not necessarily all consistent. One claims is that her last prophecy was said to be the birth of Jesus Christ. Pausanias claimed (10.14.1) that the Sibyl was "born between man and goddess, daughter of sea monsters and an immortal nymph". Others said she was the sister or daughter of Apollo.

The Sibyl came from the Troad to Delphi before the Trojan War, "in wrath with her brother Apollo", lingered for a time at Samos, visited Claros and Delos, and died in the Troad, after surviving nine generations of men. After her death, it was said that she became a wandering voice that still brought to the ears of men tidings of the future wrapped in dark riddles.

References

1. ^ Pausanias, Description of Greece

• Goodrich, Norma Lorre, Priestesses, 1990.
• Hamilton, Edith (1942). Mythology. Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 0-316-34114-2. 
• Mitford, William, The History of Greece, 1784. Cf. Chapter II, Religion of the Early Greeks.
• Parke, Herbert William, History of the Delphic Oracle, 1939.
• Parke, Herbert William, Sibyls and Sibylline Prophecy, 1988.
• Pausanias, Description of Greece, (ed. and translated with commentary by Sir James Frazer), 1913 edition. Cf. v.5
• Potter, David Stone. Prophecy and history in the crisis of the Roman Empire: a historical commentary on the Thirteenth Sibylline Oracle, 1990. Cf. Chapter 3.
• West, Martin Litchfield, The Orphic Poems, 1983. Cf. especially p.147.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sibyl of Delphi

• Suda: Delphic Sibyl from Suda On-Line. The Suda is a 10th century Byzantine encyclopedia, incorporating earlier material.
• Tim Spalding, "The Oracle of Delphi and ancient oracles" An annotated guide.
• The Oracle of Apollo is an online tribute to the magic and mystery of the Delphic Oracle.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)