In today's discourse human judgments which are considered immutable truth and revelation, often referred to as the oracle.This term is ancient and dates back to ancient beliefs.In animism it was thought that the gods have reported their will through the rustling leaves of the sacred tree, the flight of birds, the way smoke ascends from donations.Later beliefs have changed.To understand the will of the gods, he requires special interpreter, a kind of translator.He was the oracle.The belief that the spirit world is in a parallel reality, and only a few people are able to understand and interpret what God says, There is many peoples.But what are Oracle and Sybil?They, too, could predict the future, people's questions transmit answers gods.
etymology of the term
answer to the question of what the oracle, not to be found in the Latin translation, and Greek.It would be wrong to assert that the term refers to a simple priest and religious authority.Despite the fact that «oro» Latin means "to pray" oracle - originally a Greek phenomenon.And therefore should be based on the word «oραo», which means "I behold in charge."In this sense, oracles were not close to the priests, or priests and magicians to the Slavic, Germanic and Celtic druids völva.In the ancient tradition called the word and the interpretation of the will of the gods and sacred place where it was obtained.Of course, the oracle was a priest, and only special.He did not just honored some deity, but understood his language could talk to him.Sometimes spirits prophesied future through mediums - pythonesses.These women fell into a trance under the influence of chemical fumes, and began to mumble something incoherent.Pythia oracle interpreted the words and gave the questioner a person desired response.
origin of the cult
Researchers believe that the practice of divining the future came to Greece from Asia Minor.In ancient Egypt and Assyria (in the city of Buto) also existed a place where special priests "spoken by the mouth of the gods."In Greece, this cult is mixed with the worship of the goddess of earth Gaia, and the first oracle proclaimed its will in Epirus, at Dodona.According to the testimony of the famous Greek historian Herodotus, not only his countrymen but also their distant neighbors they know what the oracle.He writes that the King Croesus of Lydia decided to declare a kind of "casting" for the best diviner.He sent messengers to the Greek Delphi, in Aba, in Dodona, in Amphiaraus, Trefoniyu and Miletus.This "Battle of psychics," won ... The Oracle of Delphi.She guessed that Croesus was going to cook in a pot of lamb and a tortoise.
Pythian Apollo and the Delphic oracle: what is it?
Most temples of the ancient world learned priests of goodwill or bad mood of the gods through the interpretation of signs, sent them.This practice is called Mantica.Especially it was common in ancient Rome.The augurs watched the flight and behavior of birds, and Bachelor guessing the entrails of animals that were sacrificed.In the Greek city of Delphi cult practiced fundamentally different.It was believed that in this place Apollo speared snake Python.The blow dart in the ground formed a chasm from which a pair of rose.Later on it was built the temple, where the Pythia sat on a tripod.She breathed in the vapors and, having run from this trance, prophesied the will of Apollo.No entry to the premises, except for special priest.Here it becomes clear that such an oracle.The answers he gave bringing donations of believers were vague and sometimes contain maxims opposite.Archaeologists have found many clay tablets with questions pilgrims.List of issues that they were interested in was quite narrow: Does the wife / husband and to conclude whether a particular financial transaction.
Oracle
This woman does not have to be a virgin, just in time service to Apollo, it was obliged to remain chaste.At first, such a priestess prophesied only once a year - on the seventh day of February.But later, when the faithful did not rebound, it's put on the conveyor.At the same time at the temple at Delphi were few women working in shifts.They occupy a position of a place on a tripod on the seventh day of each month.The greatest glory of Delphi reached in the V century BCThe texts of the time clearly stated that such an oracle: the sanctuary of Apollo at the source of Wisdom Castalia.By the way, the Pythia predicted and sunset this place.In 393, Emperor Theodosius, a Christian, ordered the closure of the stronghold of paganism.
Sybil
easier People who do not have money for a pilgrimage to Delphi or other place of divination, turned to fortune-tellers - Sybil.The first woman, who wore the name was Trojan Women, the daughter of Nese and Dardanus.She had the gift of presage future.After it and other prophetesses started calling Sybil.They were especially sensitive to impending trouble.So, Sybil predicted the eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried Pompeii, predicted the destruction of Troy and the place of the battle, the outcome of which Greece will lose its independence.Now we know what the oracle Pythia who is this and who - Sybil and see the difference in these three kinds of enchantments.Oracle prophesied something unintelligible, was free to interpret the oracle heard as he pleases, and handed response to questioning.Sybil also testified mostly about the impending disaster, though not all would listen to her.For which he paid: "The day will come, and the great Troy perish!»
