Oracle

This article is about the classical concept. For the software company, seeOracle Corporation.For other uses, seeOracle (disambiguation).

Consulting the OraclebyJohn William Waterhouse,showing eight priestesses in a temple of prophecy

Anoracleis a person or thing considered to provide insight, wise counsel orpropheticpredictions,most notably includingprecognitionof the future, inspired bydeities.If done throughocculticmeans, it is a form ofdivination.

Description

The wordoraclecomes from theLatinverbōrāre,"to speak" and properly refers to the priest or priestess uttering the prediction. In extended use,oraclemay also refer to thesite of the oracle,and the oracular utterances themselves, are calledkhrēsmoí(χρησμοί) in Greek.

Oracles were thought to be portals through which the gods spoke directly to people. In this sense, they were different from seers (manteis,μάντεις) who interpreted signs sent by the gods through bird signs,animal entrails,and other various methods.

The most important oracles of Greek antiquity werePythia(priestess toApolloatDelphi), and the oracle ofDioneandZeusatDodonainEpirus.Other oracles of Apollo were located atDidymaandMalluson the coast ofAnatolia,atCorinthandBassaein thePeloponnese,and at the islands ofDelosandAeginain the Aegean Sea.

TheSibylline Oraclesare a collection of oracular utterances written in Greekhexameters,ascribed to theSibyls,prophetesses who uttered divine revelations in frenzied states.

Origins

Walter Burkertobserves that "Frenzied women from whose lips the God speaks" are recorded in theNear Eastas inMariin the second millennium BC and in Assyria in the first millennium BC.In Egypt, the goddessWadjet(eye of the moon) was depicted as a snake-headed woman or a woman with two snake-heads. Her oracle was in the renowned temple inPer-Wadjet(Greek nameButo). The oracle of Wadjet may have been the source for the oracular tradition which spread from Egypt to Greece.Evans linked Wadjet with the "Minoan Snake Goddess".

At the oracle ofDodonashe is calledDiōnē(the feminine form ofDiós,genitiveofZeus;or ofdīos,"godly", literally "heavenly" ), who represents the earth-fertile soil, probably the chief female goddess of theproto-Indo-Europeanpantheon.Python,daughter (or son) ofGaiawas the earth dragon ofDelphirepresented as aserpentand became the chthonic deity, enemy ofApollo,who slew her and possessed the oracle.

In classical antiquity

Pythia at Delphi

When the Prytanies' seat shines white in the island of Siphnos,
White-browed all the forum—need then of a true seer's wisdom—
Danger will threat from a wooden boat, and a herald in scarlet.

— The Pythoness, inThe Histories,Herodotus.

ThePythiawas the mouthpiece of the oracles of the godApollo,and was also known as the Oracle of Delphi.

The Delphic Oracle exerted considerable influence throughout Hellenic culture. Distinctively, this woman was essentially the highest authority both civilly and religiously in male-dominatedancient Greece.She responded to the questions of citizens, foreigners, kings, and philosophers on issues of political impact, war, duty, crime, family, laws—even personal issues.The semi-Hellenic countries around the Greek world, such asLydia,Caria,and evenEgyptalso respected her and came to Delphi assupplicants.

Croesus,king of Lydia beginning in 560 BC, tested the oracles of the world to discover which gave the most accurate prophecies. He sent out emissaries to seven sites who were all to ask the oracles on the same day what the king was doing at that very moment. Croesus proclaimed the oracle at Delphi to be the most accurate, who correctly reported that the king was making a lamb-and-tortoise stew, and so he graced her with a magnitude of precious gifts.He then consulted Delphi before attackingPersia,and according to Herodotus was advised: "If you cross the river, a great empire will be destroyed". Believing the response favourable, Croesus attacked, but it was his own empire that ultimately was destroyed by the Persians.

She allegedly also proclaimed that there was no man wiser thanSocrates,to which Socrates said that, if so, this was because he alone was aware of his own ignorance. After this confrontation, Socrates dedicated his life to a search for knowledge that was one of the founding events of westernphilosophy.He claimed that she was "an essential guide to personal and state development."This oracle's last recorded response was given in 362 AD, toJulian the Apostate.

The oracle's powers were highly sought after and never doubted. Any inconsistencies between prophecies and events were dismissed as failure to correctly interpret the responses, not an error of the oracle.Very often prophecies were worded ambiguously, so as to cover all contingencies – especially soex post facto.One famous such response to a query about participation in a military campaign was "You will go you will return never in war will you perish". This gives the recipient liberty to place a comma before or after the word "never", thus covering both possible outcomes. Another was the response to the Athenians when the vast army of kingXerxes Iwas approaching Athens with the intent of razing the city to the ground. "Only the wooden palisades may save you",answered the oracle, probably aware that there was sentiment for sailing to the safety of southern Italy and re-establishing Athens there. Some thought that it was a recommendation to fortify theAcropoliswith a wooden fence and make a stand there. Others,Themistoclesamong them, said the oracle was clearly for fighting at sea, the metaphor intended to mean war ships. Others still insisted that their case was so hopeless that they should board every ship available and flee toItaly,where they would be safe beyond any doubt. In the event, variations of all three interpretations were attempted: some barricaded the Acropolis, the civilian population was evacuated over sea to nearbySalamis Islandand toTroizen,and the war fleetfought victoriously at Salamis Bay.Should utter destruction have happened, it could always be claimed that the oracle had called for fleeing to Italy after all.

Sibyl at Cumae

Cumaewas the first Greek colony on the mainland of Italy, nearNaples,dating back to the 8th century BC. Thesibyllaor prophetess at Cumae became famous because of her proximity toRomeand theSibylline Booksacquired and consulted in emergencies by Rome wherein her prophecies were transcribed. The Cumaean Sibyl was called "Herophile" byPausaniasandLactantius,"Deiphobe, daughter of Glaucus" byVirgil,as well as "Amaltheia", "Demophile", or "Taraxandra" by others. Sibyl's prophecies became popular withChristiansas they were thought to predict the birth ofJesus Christ.

Oracle at Didyma

The ruins of the Temple of Apollo at Didyma

Didymanear Ionia in Asia Minor in the domain of the famous city ofMiletus.

Oracle at Dodona

Dodonain northwestern Greece was another oracle devoted to theMother Goddessidentified at other sites withRheaorGaia,but here calledDione.The shrine of Dodona, set in a grove of oak trees, was the oldest Hellenic oracle, according to the fifth-century historian Herodotus, and dated from pre-Hellenic times, perhaps as early as the second millennium BC, when the tradition may have spread from Egypt. By the time of Herodotus,Zeushad displaced the Mother Goddess, who had been assimilated toAphrodite,and the worship of the deified heroHeracleshad been added. Dodona became the second most important oracle in ancient Greece, afterDelphi.At Dodona, Zeus was worshipped as Zeus Naios or Naos (god of springsNaiads,from a spring under the oaks), or as Zeus Bouleos (chancellor). Priestesses and priests interpreted the rustling of the leaves of the oak tree that stood on this spot as Zeus' sanctuary to determine the correct actions to be taken.

Oracle at Abae

The oracle ofAbaewas one of the most important oracles. It was almost completely destroyed by the Persians during theSecond Persian invasion of Greece.

Other oracles

Erythraenear Ionia in Asia Minor was home to a prophetess.

Trophoniuswas an oracle atLebadeaofBoeotiadevoted to the chthonian Zeus Trophonius. Trophonius was a Greek hero nursed byEuropa.

Near the Menestheus's port orMenesthei Portus(Greek:Μενεσθέως λιμήν), modernEl Puerto de Santa María,Spain,was the Oracle of Menestheus (Greek:Μαντεῖον τοῦ Μενεσθέως), to whom also the inhabitants ofGadesoffered sacrifices.

At theIkaros islandin thePersian Gulf(modernFailaka IslandinKuwait), there was an oracle ofArtemisTauropolus.

AtClaros,there was the oracle ofApolloClarius.

AtPtoion,there was an oracle of Ptoios and later ofApollo.

AtGryneium,there was a sanctuary of Apollo with an ancient oracle.

AtLivadeiathere was the oracle ofTrophonius.

The oracle ofZeus AmmonatSiwa Oasiswas so famous thatAlexander the Greatvisited it when he conquered Egypt.

There was also another oracle of Zeus Ammon atAphytisinChalkidiki.

The oracle of Zeus atOlympia.

In the city ofAnariace(Ἀναριάκη) at theCaspian Sea,there was an oracle for sleepers. Persons should sleep in the temple in order to learn the divine will.

The oracle of Apollo atEutresisand the oracle of Apollo atTegyra.

Oracle ofAphroditeatPaphos.

There were many "oracles of the dead", such as inArgolis,Cumae,Herakleia in Pontos,in the Temple ofPoseidoninTaenaron,but the most important was theNecromanteion of Acheron.

In other cultures

Main article:Divination

The term "oracle" is also applied in modern English to parallel institutions of divination in other cultures. Specifically, it is used in the context ofChristianityfor the concept ofdivine revelation,and in the context ofJudaismfor theUrim and Thummimbreastplate, and in general any utterance consideredprophetic.

Celtic polytheism

InCeltic polytheism,divination was performed by the priestly caste, either thedruidsor thevates.This is reflected in the role of "seers" inDark Age Wales(dryw) andIreland(fáith).

China

Main articles:Oracle boneandI Ching

Oracle boneof theShang dynasty,ancient China

In China,oracle boneswere used for divination in the lateShang dynasty,(c. 1600–1046 BC). Diviners applied heat to these bones, usually ox scapulae or tortoise plastrons, and interpreted the resulting cracks.

A different divining method, using the stalks of theyarrow plant,was practiced in the subsequentZhou dynasty(1046–256 BC). Around the late 9th century BC, the divination system was recorded in theI Ching,or "Book of Changes", a collection of linear signs used as oracles. In addition to its oracular power, theI Chinghas had a major influence on the philosophy, literature and statecraft of China since the Zhou period.

Egypt

Main article:Reporter (Ancient Egypt)

According to theAncient Egyptian religion,some ancient Egyptian gods (and rarely deified humans), acted as intermediaries between humans and the divine. This was exemplified by theAncient Egyptiantitle "Reporter/Herald"(wḥmw), whom in the religious context, reports requests and petitions to the local gods.

Hawaii

InHawaii,oracles were found at certainheiau,Hawaiian temples. These oracles were found in towers covered in whitekapacloth made from plant fibres. In here, priests received the will of gods. These towers were called'Anu'u.An example of this can be found at Ahu'ena heiau inKona.

India and Nepal

In ancientIndia,the oracle was known asākāśavānī"voice/speech from the sky/aether"oraśarīravānī"a disembodied voice (or voice of the unseen)" (asaririin Tamil), and was related to the message of a god. Oracles played key roles in many of the major incidents of the epicsMahabharataandRamayana.An example is thatKamsa(or Kansa), the evil uncle ofKrishna,was informed by an oracle that the eighth son of his sisterDevakiwould kill him. The opening verse of theTiruvalluva Maalai,a medieval Tamil anthology usually dated by modern scholars to between c. 7th and 10th centuries CE, is attributed to anasaririor oracle.However, there are no references in any Indian literature of the oracle being a specific person.

Contemporarily,Theyyamor "theiyam" inMalayalam- a south Indian language - the process by which a Priest invites aHindugod or goddess to use his or her body as a medium or channel and answer other devotees' questions, still happens.The same is called "arulvaakku" or "arulvaak" inTamil,another south Indian language -Adhiparasakthi Siddhar Peetamis famous for arulvakku inTamil Nadu.The people in and aroundMangaloreinKarnatakacall the same,Buta Kola,"paathri" or "darshin"; in other parts of Karnataka, it is known by various names such as, "prashnaavali", "vaagdaana", "asei", "aashirvachana" and so on.InNepalit is known as, "Devta ka dhaamee" or "jhaakri".

Nigeria

TheIgbo peopleof southeasternNigeriainAfricahave a long tradition of using oracles. In Igbo villages, oracles were usually femalepriestessesto a particular deity, usually dwelling in a cave or other secluded location away from urban areas, and, much as the oracles of ancient Greece, would deliver prophecies in an ecstatic state to visitors seeking advice. Two of their ancient oracles became especially famous during the pre-colonial period: the Agbala oracle atAwkaand the Chukwu oracle atArochukwu.Although the vast majority of Igbos today areChristian,many of them still use oracles.

Among the relatedYoruba peoplesof the same country, theBabalawos(and their female counterparts, the Iyanifas) serve collectively as the principal aspects of the tribe's world-famousIfa divinationsystem. Due to this, they customarily officiate at a great many of its traditional and religious ceremonies.

Norse mythology

InNorse mythology,Odintook the severed head of the godMimirtoAsgardfor consultation as an oracle. TheHavamaland other sources relate thesacrificeof Odin for the oracularruneswhereby he lost an eye (external sight) and won wisdom (internal sight;insight).

Pre-Columbian Americas

In the migration myth of the Mexitin, i.e., the earlyAztecs,amummy-bundle (perhaps aneffigy) carried by four priests directed the trek away from the cave of origins by giving oracles. An oracle led to the foundation ofMexico-Tenochtitlan.TheYucatec Mayasknew oracle priests orchilanes,literally 'mouthpieces' of the deity. Their written repositories oftraditional knowledge,the Books ofChilam Balam,were all ascribed to one famous oracle priest who had correctly predicted the coming of the Spaniards and its associated disasters.

Tibet

InTibet,oracles (Chinese: Hộ pháp ) have played, and continue to play, an important part in religion and government. The word "oracle" is used by Tibetans to refer to the spirit that enters those men and women who act asmediabetween the natural and the spiritual realms. The media are, therefore, known askuten,which literally means, "the physical basis". In the29-Article Ordinance for the More Effective Governing of Tibet(Chinese:Khâm định tàng nội giải quyết tốt hậu quả chương trình 29 điều), an imperial decree published in 1793 by theQianlong Emperor,article 1 states that the creation ofGolden Urnis to ensure prosperity ofGelug,and to eliminate cheating and corruption in the selection process performed by oracles.

TheDalai Lama,who lives in exile in northern India, still consults an oracle known as theNechung Oracle,which is considered the official state oracle of the government of Tibet. The Dalai Lama has, according to centuries-old custom, consulted the Nechung Oracle during the new year festivities ofLosar.Nechung and Gadhong are the primary oracles currently consulted; former oracles such as Karmashar and Darpoling are no longer active in exile. The Gadhong oracle has died leaving Nechung to be the only primary oracle. Another oracle the Dalai Lama consults is theTenma Oracle,for which a young Tibetan woman by the name of Khandro La is the medium for the mountain goddesses Tseringma along with the other 11 goddesses. The Dalai Lama gives a complete description of the process oftranceandspirit possessionin his bookFreedom in Exile. Dorje Shugden oracles were once consulted by the Dalai Lamas until the 14th Dalai Lama banned the practice, even though he consulted Dorje Shugden for advice to escape and was successful in it. Due to the ban, many of the abbots that were worshippers of Dorje Shugden have been forced to go against the Dalai Lama.

See also

• Fuji (planchette writing)
• Futomani
• I Ching
• Jiaobei
• Kau Cim
• Lên đồng
• Lingqijing
• Mudang
• Poe divination
• Tangki
• Tung Shing

Further reading

• Broad, William J.(2007).The Oracle: Ancient Delphi and the Science Behind Its Lost Secrets.New York: Penguin Press.
• Broad, William J.(2006).The Oracle: The Lost Secrets and Hidden Message of Ancient Delphi.New York: Penguin Press.
• Curnow, T. (1995).The Oracles of the Ancient World: A Comprehensive Guide.London: Duckworth –ISBN0-7156-3194-2
• Evans-Pritchard, E.(1976).Witchcraft, Oracle, and Magic among the Azande.Oxford: Clarendon Press.
• Fontenrose, J.(1981).The Delphic Oracle: Its Responses and Operations, with a Catalogue of Responses.Berkeley:University of California Press.
• Kajava, Mika (ed.)(2013).Studies in Ancient Oracles and Divination (Acta Instituti Romani Finlandiae 40).Rome:Institutum Romanum Finlandiae.
• Smith, Frederick M. (2006).The Self-Possessed: Deity and Spirit Possession in South Asian Literature.Columbia University Press.ISBN0-231-13748-6.
• Stoneman, Richard (2011).The Ancient Oracles: Making the Gods Speak.Yale University Press.
• Garoi Ashram, (2004–2023).The Copper Oracle of Sri Achyuta: Answers as Instantaneous Inscription.
• Woodard, Roger D. (2023).Divination and prophecy in the ancient Greek world.Cambridge, United Kingdom.ISBN9781009221610.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

External links

• Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911)."Oracle".Encyclopædia Britannica(11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.