'Pythia (the Oracle of Delphi)\r'

'Portrait of a Priestess By: Joan Breton Connelly The historical hear referred to as the â€Å"Oracle of Delphi,” in ancient writings by Aeschylus, Aristotle, Diogenes, Euripides, Herodotus, Plato, Plutarch, and Sophocles, was the â€Å"Pythia,” or â€Å"Priestess” of the temple of Apollo at Delphi; turn up in a cave on move up Parnassus, beneath the caspian Spring. The Pythia was a respectable position for a women among the ancient greeks. Several women were selected to succeed the position of Pythia e trulyplace the span of the temples practice from 1,400 BC-393 A.D. I will be focussing on one in particular, whose experience changes the requirements of the position. The Pythia was known for her prophetic visions, said to to be inspire by the divinity Apollo. Ancient from all just well-nigh Greece would travel to Delphi in hopes to hear a forecasting from the Pythia that be would be reflect favorable on their future. The myth was that the fumes from th e Caspian Spring inspired her visions. troika male priests would accompany her, and interpret her hysterical, unintelligible bubble to the visitors.Modern historians and scientists theorize that a hallucinogenic gas from a seismic crack in the mountain stir her, and was the cause of her erratic behavior. However, scientist extensive scientific look for has been performed on the location and been found contradictory and stupid on both sides. There is no put down procedure on how they selected the Pythia, scarce it is assumed that she was selected upon the finish of her predecessor and chosen from a guild of priestesses. She was eer a young, respectable virgin, native to the area.Once she was selected she had to leave her family, resign her ain identity, and sever all communication with those she’d previously known. The benefits were that she would receive monetary compensation, position, attend humanity events, and own her property. They also appeared to select wom en upon aptitude instead than position in society. One Pythia could be sound education and aristocratic, and another could be from the working class. At the Height of the Temples popularity there were up to three Pythias in residents.They would alternate between sessions, because the activity left them worn out(p) and delirious. It was said that the Pythias life was shortened from the strenuous occupation. afterwards an incident where a Pythias was been attacked and killed for giving unfavorable prophecies, they increase the number. The Pythia I’m choosing served in 300AD, she was attacked and raped in the temple. Upon this incident the priests were laboured to make a c fall away on the policy of the requirements of a priestess, because she was no socio-economic classner a virgin. They changed the policy which opened the opportunity up to married women as well.I would like to write about this incident, because she was not only violated, but in danger of losing her job , being exiled, and possibly killed. Once a year the Pythia would undergo a cleansing ritual, where she would bathe in the Caspian Stream. The procedure was extremely detailed and strict. I cogitate this would be an awesome incident to write my soliloquy about. The importance and specificity of the ritual makes it an important event in her life. Also bathing in the toxic parachute could also present an interesting opportunity to intoxication, and visions.The Pythias personal life, (I poop only imagine) was one of deep sadness and extortion. She may have had high hopes for the position, she may not have wanted to serve at all, but it was not a position that would be socially acceptable to refuse. Not only did she have to lose her family and her identity, but she had to forfeit any chance of acquiring married and having children. She was in a temple, that was essentially a converted cave, and constantly hyped up on hallucinogens. It was basically an ancient form of prostitution. The temple made currency off of her â€Å"prophecies” while her mind and body was slow destroyed from abuse.The danger of attack, rape and death were very real to her in everyday life. I can only imagine the state of her mind, and her misery. She was dealt a achieve that appeared glamorous from the outside, but was misleading. The source of the Pythias visions remain a mystery, which I find both exciting and troubling. If it were square(a) that the woman selected to be Pythia received divine visions from the God Apollo my conjecture about her personal life would protest greatly than if she were a drugged, captive woman who was forced to live a desolate life. I bring forward the mystery of the Pythia, is what makes it so intriguing even to this day.\r\n'