A Trip To Delphi

Now, here is a little bit more about our trip to Delphi. Boris was joking about visiting the first database in the world (because Delphi is a place where Oracle lived), and I said that it’s rather the first AI :). Except for that, we knew little about Delphi, so we spent all three hours on the road listening to the tour guide who was filling us in.

As I said, the most striking part were the views on the mountains and valleys, but that’s something impossible to describe or to capture on a photo. I tried but it doesn’t represent the reality, even remotely!

Each turn of the road produced more ahhs, because each next view was even more scenic than the previous one!

I have to admit, that I either forgot or never knew that Delphi is located by the Mount Parnassus.

And similarly(or consequently), I forgot that the temple with the Oracle was dedicated to Apollo. Another thing I didn’t know was that Appollo supposedly was out of town for winter months, and at that time, Dionysios ruled the city, and the plays were presented at the theater.

The visitors could ask the Oracle for advice only when Apollo was present.

The Pythias were older women, but it was not like this from the beginning. Initially, Pythias were young virgins, but because of multiple cases of rape, the decision was made to choose Pythia from older virgins (over 50).

Pythia sat in the “basement” of the temple surrounded by the smoke of burning bay leaves. Also, although it is not confirmed, but it was believed that there were some cracks in the earth from which the vapors that caused the trance emanated. Pythia didn’t say anything in response to the questions. She could just move or produce some sounds, and these signs were interpreted by the prophets and communicated to the priests who gave the meaning of the response. So it was a very complicated procedure indeed!