Greek Divination & Oracular Cults

Question 1

what is divination (mantike)?

Answer 1

• the act of obtaining clues from the gods about the future
• based on the notion that we do not understand the world in its entirety
• diviners communicate w/ the gods
• takes place in oracular santuaries

Question 2

what are 3 techniques of divination?

Answer 2

1. kleromancy: divination by lots (diviner throws then picks pebbles/beans from bowl, cf. tea leaves)
2. interpretation of signs: gods deliver info through signs in the natural world (e.g. direction of birds, thunder, etc.)
3. oral divination (most prestigious)

divination is best when in a state of madness/insanity (mania)

Question 3

who were oracle-collectors & what did they do?

Answer 3

• freelance diviners who memorize or carry oracles w/ them
• offer their expertise for a fee
• not attached to a santuary
• could be employed by a city if reputable

Question 4

who was the Pythia & what did they do?

Answer 4

• the high priestess on site at the santuary of Apollo at Delphi (i.e. the Oracle of Delphi)
• lifelong position
• eldery woman from Delphi (unclear if elderly from the beginning)

Question 5

what is the significance of the Sanctuary of Zeus and
Dionē at Dodona?

Answer 5

• the oldest Greek oracular cult
• visited by Odysseus to ask Zeus how to get home
• priests & priestesses could provide people w/ oracles (i.e. announcements from the gods)
• priestesses able to interpret signs from Zeus & Dione
• one in Greece & one in Siwah (Egypt/Libya)

Dione = titan mother of Aphrodite

Question 6

what is the significance of the Sanctuary of Apollo at
Delphi?

Answer 6

• oracular divination practiced once a month
• pythia
• utterances, incubation, & kleromancy all practiced on site
• extremely popular in 600s-500s

Question 7

how did the Oracle at Delphi work?

Answer 7

• preliminary rituals in santuary (w/ priest supervision)
• enter temple to make second sacrifice
• enter inner room housing Pythia
• vapour rises from beneath Pythia, putting her in trance-like state
• visitor asks the oracle a question
• Pythia speaks for Apollo → answers in undecipherable language
• a priest translates the speech