Oracles Prophecy Divination
Methods of foretelling the future through the reading of entrails or the utterances of oracles, especially those of Apollo at Delphi and the Romans haruspicy and Sibylline Books.
Delphic Oracle - About Delphi and the Delphic Oracle
Delphi is best known as the home of the Delphic Oracle or the Pythia, a priestess of Apollo. The traditional picture is of the Pythia, in an altered state, muttering words inspired by the god, which male priests transcribed. The Pythia sat on a great bronze tripod in a spot above a crevice in rocks from which vapors rose. Before sitting, she burned laurel leaves and barley meal on the altar.
Delphi is best known as the home of the Delphic Oracle or the Pythia, a priestess of Apollo. The traditional picture is of the Pythia, in an altered state, muttering words inspired by the god, which male priests transcribed. The Pythia sat on a great bronze tripod in a spot above a crevice in rocks from which vapors rose. Before sitting, she burned laurel leaves and barley meal on the altar.
Augur
An augur was a priest who used birds for divination.
An augur was a priest who used birds for divination.
Augury - Augurium
Augury was the art of reading divine signs.
Augury was the art of reading divine signs.
Haruspicy
The haruspex was a revered Etruscan priest who told the future by reading the entrails of animal livers. His art, which was taught to the Romans, was called haruspicy.
The haruspex was a revered Etruscan priest who told the future by reading the entrails of animal livers. His art, which was taught to the Romans, was called haruspicy.
Cicero - De Amicitia
At the beginning of Cicero's De Amicitia -- On Friendship -- Cicero talks about being taken to Quintus Mucius Scaevola, an augur.
At the beginning of Cicero's De Amicitia -- On Friendship -- Cicero talks about being taken to Quintus Mucius Scaevola, an augur.
The Art of Haruspicy which is the Etruscan Discipline
An article on the Etruscan art of haruspicy, with char (the Piacenzi liver) showing the significance of various sections of the liver.
An article on the Etruscan art of haruspicy, with char (the Piacenzi liver) showing the significance of various sections of the liver.
Extispicium
Extispicium comes from words for entrails and to look at and involves divination by means of reading the entrails of sacrificed animals.
Extispicium comes from words for entrails and to look at and involves divination by means of reading the entrails of sacrificed animals.
The Sibylline Books
1899 translation, by Milton S. Terry, of the Pseudo-Sibylline Oracles, from c. A.D. 2-6th C. They include elements of Hellenistic and Roman Pagan mythology, Jewish legends, references to historical figures such as Alexander the Great and Cleopatra, and a list of Roman Emperors.
1899 translation, by Milton S. Terry, of the Pseudo-Sibylline Oracles, from c. A.D. 2-6th C. They include elements of Hellenistic and Roman Pagan mythology, Jewish legends, references to historical figures such as Alexander the Great and Cleopatra, and a list of Roman Emperors.
Great Oracles - Chapter 20 A Day in Old Athens
A look at the supremacy of the Delphic Oracle from A Day in Old Athens, by William Stearns Davis (1910).
A look at the supremacy of the Delphic Oracle from A Day in Old Athens, by William Stearns Davis (1910).
Marcellus
Marcellus was declared consul after the augurs declared invalid the election of Flaminius and Furius.
Marcellus was declared consul after the augurs declared invalid the election of Flaminius and Furius.
Pythia and the Delphic Oracle
From A Day in Old Athens, by William Stearns Davis, "She inhales the gas, sways to and fro in an ecstasy, and now, duly 'inspired,' answers in a somewhat wild manner the queries which the priest will put in behalf of the supplicants."
From A Day in Old Athens, by William Stearns Davis, "She inhales the gas, sways to and fro in an ecstasy, and now, duly 'inspired,' answers in a somewhat wild manner the queries which the priest will put in behalf of the supplicants."
Tiresias Prophecy About Narcissus
The prophet Tiresias was consulted about the longevity of the newborn Narcissus. Tiresias said Narcissus would live long provided he never got to know himself.
The prophet Tiresias was consulted about the longevity of the newborn Narcissus. Tiresias said Narcissus would live long provided he never got to know himself.
Tiresias Warns Pentheus
Pentheus wouldn't listen to the warning of the prophet Tiresias.
Pentheus wouldn't listen to the warning of the prophet Tiresias.