Classical Athens and the Delphic Oracle: Divination and DemocracyCambridge University Press, 2005 M05 5 - 188 pages The Delphic Oracle was where, according to Greek tradition, Apollo would speak through his priestesses. This work explores the importance placed on consultations at Delphi by Athenians in the city's age of democracy. It demonstrates the extent to which concern to do the will of the gods affected Athenian politics, challenging the notion that Athenian democracy may be seen as a model for modern secular democratic constitutions. All the known consultations of the oracle by Athens in the period before 300 BC are examined, and descriptions of consultations found in Attic tragedy and comedy are discussed. This work provides a new account of how the Delphic oracle functioned and presents a thorough analysis of the relationship between the Athenians and the oracle, making it essential reading both for students of the oracle itself and of Athenian democracy. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
How did the Delphic oracle work? | 12 |
What did the Athenians think of the Delphic oracle? | 40 |
What did historians and philosophers say about the Delphic oracle? | 65 |
How and why did the Athenians consult the Delphic oracle? | 88 |
What did the Athenians ask the Delphic oracle? | 109 |
Why did the Athenians and other Greek cities go to war? | 134 |
Conclusion divination and democracy | 152 |
Consultations of Delphi in Attic tragedy | 160 |
Concordance of Athenian consultations of Delphi | 168 |
Bibliography | 170 |
180 | |
186 | |
Other editions - View all
Classical Athens and the Delphic Oracle: Divination and Democracy Hugh Bowden No preview available - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
acropolis Aegeus Agesipolis Ahura Mazda allies ancestral custom ancient answer Apollo asked Assembly Athenian consultations Athenian democracy Athens Attica battle Bowden century BC chapter citizens claim Cleisthenes concern consult the oracle consultation of Delphi consulted Delphi Croesus cult debate decision Delos Delphi Delphians Delphic oracle deme Demeter Demosthenes discussed Eleans Eleusis enquirer Euripides evidence expedition festivals fifth century first-fruits Fontenrose 1978 forms of divination fourth century goddesses gods Greece Greek cities Heracles Herodotus heroes honour Hornblower important inscription interpretation involved issues king land Megarian decree mentioned Oedipus Oedipus the King oracle-interpreters oracular responses Parke and Wormell Pausanias Peloponnesian Peloponnesian War Persian Phocians plague Plato plays Plut Plutarch political priestess priests prophecies Pythia question quoted recognised references religion religious ritual role Sacred Orgas sacrifice Salamis sanctuary scholars Socrates Sophocles Spartans speeches story suggests temple Thebans Thebes Theseus Thuc Thucydides tragedy verse wooden wall Xenophon Xerxes Zeus