Dating back to 1400 B.C., the Oracle of Delphi was the most
important shrine in all Greece, and in theory all Greeks respected
its independence. Built around a sacred spring, Delphi was
considered to be the omphalos - the center (the navel) of the
world.
People came from all over Greece and beyond to have their
questions about the future answered by the Pythia, the priestess
of Apollo. And her answers, usually cryptic, could determine the
all kinds of things from domestic concerns to when an empire
should declared war. The poetry from Delphi was very vague
but accurately predicted the fame of Socrates and the defeat of
the Persians in 480 B.C.
Arguments over the correct interpretation of an oracle were
common, but the oracle was always happy to give another
prophecy if more gold was provided. A good example is the
famous incident before the Battle of Salamis when the Pythia first
predicted doom and later predicted that a 'wooden wall'
(interpreted by the Athenians to mean their ships) would save
them.
The world famous Oracle of Delphi played an influential role
in ancient history. For fourteen centuries it helped determine the
course of empires. The prophesying was abolished in the 4th
century as it conflicted with Christian beliefs that were at that
time being embraced by Rome.
