Tales of the Pythia Trivia Quiz

Answer: High Priestess

The Pythia was a high priestess. Although her position may date all the way back to Mycenaean Greece (c.1600-1100 BC), it gained status in the 7th century BC and continued to be important until the 4th century AD. She presided at the most famous oracle in ancient Greece, and many prominent people, including Alexander the Great, consulted her.

The priestess in ancient Greek society - especially the Pythia who was a high priestess - gained a higher status than other women could ever hope to achieve; this was due to the fact that the Pythia was allowed to own property and attend public events.

In addition, a salary was paid, free housing was provided, and the Pythia did not have to pay taxes.

Answer: Apollo

One of the Twelve Olympians, Apollo held domain over many aspects of life. He was the god of light, music, healing, poetry, truth, sun, and prophecy. Apollo was an oracular god, which meant that he had the ability to provide wise advise, as well as predict the future.

As in the case of the Pythia, it was believed that Apollo would speak directly to hear and then whatever she spoke would be written down by one of the priests. Some sources claim that her utterances were a bit garbled and the priests made sense of what she said, while other sources say that what she said was clear and precise and did not have to be interpreted in any way.

In his writings, the great Greek historian, Herodotus, said that the Pythia spoke in dactylic hexameters.

Answer: Delphi

There are stories in mythology that tell how Delphi became the center of divine prophecies. Originally it was sacred to both Poseidon, god of the sea, and Gaia, the Earth Mother; the office of oracle was held by Themis, an ancient Titaness who represented divine order, fairness, and custom, and Phoebe, another ancient Titaness who was associated with the moon. Sometime during the Greek Dark Ages (c. 11th-9th c. BC), the site was either seized by Apollo or given to him, depending on the story. The office of high priestess continued there due to the long-standing tradition with which it was associated. Actually, there were three high priestesses who presided at Delphi. Two took turns serving as the oracle, and one was considered to be the spare.

Answer: Virgin

The Greek historian, Diodorus, wrote that originally the Pythia had to be a virgin, pure and chaste, in order to be the oracle. There was an incident, however, that changed the thinking about this important position. The Pythia was abducted and violated by Echecrates the Thessalian, who had seen her and fallen in love due to her beauty.

In order to prevent future similar occurrences, a law was passed that decreed that the Pythia had to be a woman who was at least fifty years old. In order to keep a part of the ancient tradition, the older Pythia would wear the clothes and jewelry of a virgin.

There isn't a lot of information about how a successor to the Pythia was chosen after one died. It is believed that she had to be a person of good character; although she could be married and have a family, all of her family obligations ceased when she became the Pythia.

Historians also believe that originally the Pythia came from an important, influential family from the immediate area. Eventually, however, women from poorer families were also selected.

Answer: One day a month

While it may not seem that one day a month - and this was one day a month when the oracle was open - would be enough time for the Pythia to fulfill her duties, it must be said that the job itself on that day was very demanding. It was a taxing and draining job; it might take days for the Pythia to recover after such a task. Some sources even claim that the Pythia did not live a very long life due to the physical demands of her job. In addition to only hearing questions one day a month, the oracle was closed completely from November-February, during which months it was believed that the god left his sacred domain.

There is an interesting story that Alexander the Great attempted to visit the Pythia on a day that she was not serving as the oracle. His father had previously died, he was the new king of Macedonia, and he wanted to begin his invasion of Persia. The guards at the building told him the oracle was not open, and to come back in February. It was the beginning of November and he didn't want to wait. Enraged at the rebuff, he seized the Pythia and forced her to the sacred place within the temple. She reportedly said, "You are invincible. You will not be defeated in battle". That was the assurance Alexander needed that the gods were on his side, so he could go back to his men and say, "We're all good! She says we are going to win"!

Answer: Oleander

Some historians believe that the actions of the Pythia while serving as the oracle were induced by the use of oleander. When the plant was burned or its leaves were chewed the result was similar to an epileptic seizure; this was believed to have been the time when the Pythia was receiving divine guidance from the god.

Others believe that it is possible that the room where the oracle gave her prophecies was situated over an underground spring which emitted toxic vapors that may have produced hallucinogenic gases. Ethylene gas vapors that came from the spring might have induced the "divine contact".

Answer: Homeric Hymns

The "Homeric Hymns" are believed to have been compiled between the 7th century BC and the 5th century BC. There were not written by Homer; in fact, the writers are unknown. The reason they are referred to as "Homeric" is because they were written in dactylic hexameter, the same meter as the "Iliad" and "Odyssey". Because ancient writers originally believed that they had been written by Homer, they were named "Homeric Hymns".

There are thirty-three hymns in the collection altogether; some are brief while others are long, but most of them praise gods and goddesses. "To Delphic Apollo" (c. 580-570 BC) is the earliest written reference to the origin of the oracle.

It relates that the first priests there were chosen by the god himself and came from Crete.

The priests, while not as important as the Pythia in status, did provide an important service. They were in charge of the entire complex. Chosen from local citizens, they were appointed for life, made sacrifices, ran the Pythian games, and, as already stated, wrote down the Pythia's prophecies.

Answer: Adyton

The adyton was the innermost sanctuary in a Greek temple; admission into the room was forbidden to everyone except the priestesses, priests, and their assistants. These rooms are closely associated with the god Apollo and are found at many of his temples.

At Delphi the adyton was the small room (9 feet x 12 feet) from which the Pythia would give her prophecies. She would enter the room after undergoing a purification ritual. Once the proper sacrifices were made, the Pythia was ready to answer questions. During this time she sat on a tripod, holding the laurel leaves that were sacred to the god, and staring into a bowl of water from the sacred stream.

Modern archaeologists have found that below the adyton at Delphi two fault lines intersected.

This may have been the source of the fumes or gasses that some believed cause the Pythia's hallucinations. Whatever the case, it was believed that the god talked to the Pythia while she was in this room, and what she conveyed from him was considered to be the real truth. All of the incorrect choices are elements of ancient Greek architecture.

Answer: True

While anyone could petition the Pythia for advice, there was a process involved in doing so. First, there was the journey to the temple, which could be difficult and dangerous. One would have to imagine that the need for wisdom would have to be great in order for someone to embark on such an undertaking. Once the consultant reached the temple, the priests would talk with them to determine whether they had a valid concern; if so, the consultant would then be told how to form their question to the Pythia.

It was expected that consultants would bring gifts for the god, and those who bought better gifts were reasonably certain that they would be among the consultants who were heard first. After visiting the oracle and asking their question, consultants would return home to see if the prophecy came true. If the Pythia was not available, it appears that the priests at the temple would hear simple yes or no questions.

Answer: Phemonoe

Much was written about Phemonoe in ancient Greece, and the stories do not necessarily agree. Some say that she was the daughter of Apollo, while others claim she was the daughter of his supposed son, Delphus; some indicate that she lived at Delos, while others tell that Delphi was her home.

She is considered to be the first Pythia, a poetess, and, according to some sources, the inventor of the hexameter verse. Apparently there was a priest of the temple who attended the Pythia when she met with visitors; some sources claim that her message came out as a garbled rant, which would then be written in hexametric verse by the priest.