CiNii Books - Classical Athens and the Delphic oracle : divination and democracy

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.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. How did the Delphic oracle work?
2. What did the Athenians think of the Delphic Oracle?
3. What did historians and philosophers say about the Delphic oracle?
4. How and why did the Athenians consult the Delphic oracle?
5. What did the Athenians ask the Delphic oracle?
6. Why did the Athenians (and other Greek cities) go to war?
7. Conclusion: divination and democracy
Appendix 1. Consultations of Delphi in Attic tragedy
Appendix 2. Concordance of Athenian consultations.

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Classical Athens and the Delphic oracle : divination and democracy

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