What did Athenians ask the Delphic Oracle?. Sources for our knowledge Some ancient authors report oracular responses a few inscriptions survive Methodological issue> how typical were those consultations? Critical approach necessary. When oracle was consulted, for what?. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
What did Athenians ask the What did Athenians ask the Delphic Oracle? Delphic Oracle? Sources for our knowledge Sources for our knowledge - Some ancient authors report Some ancient authors report oracular responses oracular responses - a few inscriptions survive a few inscriptions survive Methodological issue> how typical Methodological issue> how typical were those consultations? were those consultations? Critical approach necessary Critical approach necessary
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What did Athenians ask the What did Athenians ask the Delphic Oracle?Delphic Oracle?
Sources for our knowledgeSources for our knowledge- Some ancient authors report oracular Some ancient authors report oracular
responsesresponses- a few inscriptions survivea few inscriptions survive
Methodological issue> how typical Methodological issue> how typical were those consultations?were those consultations?
When oracle was consulted, for When oracle was consulted, for what?what?
-Plague, famine, drought, catastrophe-Plague, famine, drought, catastrophe War or War or casus belli casus belli Portents, prodigiesPortents, prodigies Problems of rulershipProblems of rulership Welfare of city or stateWelfare of city or state Desire to found a city or colonyDesire to found a city or colony Worship of gods, how to honor and please Worship of gods, how to honor and please
themthem Religious problemsReligious problems
Examples of oracle Examples of oracle consultation for plague, consultation for plague,
famine, catastrophefamine, catastrophe The following example recorded by a The following example recorded by a
later historian (Diogenes Laertius, 3later historian (Diogenes Laertius, 3rdrd century AD) writing about the 6century AD) writing about the 6thth centurycentury
““When the Athenians were attacked by a When the Athenians were attacked by a plague, the Pythia told them to purify plague, the Pythia told them to purify the city. And he came in the 46the city. And he came in the 46thth Olympiad (595-2 BC) and purified the Olympiad (595-2 BC) and purified the city and stopped the plague in this way.city and stopped the plague in this way.
Plato writing on the same episodePlato writing on the same episode Plato’s Plato’s Laws 642 dLaws 642 d
You have probably heard how that You have probably heard how that inspired man Epimenides…was born in inspired man Epimenides…was born in Crete, and how ten years before the Crete, and how ten years before the Persian War (i.e. 500BC) in obedience Persian War (i.e. 500BC) in obedience to the oracle of a god he went to to the oracle of a god he went to Athens and offered certain sacrifices Athens and offered certain sacrifices which the god had ordained.which the god had ordained.
Methodological problems when Methodological problems when comparing two sources about comparing two sources about
same incidentsame incident Note difference in dateNote difference in date For Diogenes Laertius (who has most For Diogenes Laertius (who has most
likely the correct date) the incident likely the correct date) the incident was placed in the early 6was placed in the early 6thth century, century, whereas for Plato in late 6whereas for Plato in late 6thth, , beginning 5beginning 5thth (note that ten years (note that ten years before persian wars puts us in 500 before persian wars puts us in 500 BC, persian wars 490)BC, persian wars 490)
Another example- PLAGUEAnother example- PLAGUE
Plague of 430, just after the outbreak of Plague of 430, just after the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War (of 431BC) the Peloponnesian War (of 431BC)
Athens was struck by a very serious Athens was struck by a very serious plague, perhaps smallpox or a form of plague, perhaps smallpox or a form of typhus according to University of Athens typhus according to University of Athens teamteam
The plague killed about 1/3 of the The plague killed about 1/3 of the population of Athens. See archaeological population of Athens. See archaeological record, and article in record, and article in Archaeology Archaeology magazine.magazine.
Plague in AthensPlague in Athens Recent findings from a mass grave in the Ancient Recent findings from a mass grave in the Ancient
Cemetery of Kerameikos in central Athens show Cemetery of Kerameikos in central Athens show typhoid fever may have caused the plague of typhoid fever may have caused the plague of Athens, ending centuries of speculation about what Athens, ending centuries of speculation about what kind of disease killed a third of the city’s population kind of disease killed a third of the city’s population and contributed to the end of its Golden Age.and contributed to the end of its Golden Age.
Examined by a group of Greek scientists Examined by a group of Greek scientists coordinated by Dr Manolis Papagrigorakis of Athens coordinated by Dr Manolis Papagrigorakis of Athens University’s School of Dentistry, the findings provide University’s School of Dentistry, the findings provide clear evidence that Salmonella enterica serovar clear evidence that Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi was present in the dental pulp of teeth Typhi was present in the dental pulp of teeth recovered in remains from the mass grave.recovered in remains from the mass grave.
The plague that decimated the population of Athens The plague that decimated the population of Athens in 430-426 BC was a deciding factor in the outcome in 430-426 BC was a deciding factor in the outcome of the Peloponnesian Wars, ending the Golden Age of the Peloponnesian Wars, ending the Golden Age of Pericles and Athens’s predominance in the of Pericles and Athens’s predominance in the Mediterranean.Mediterranean.
It broke out during the siege of the city by the It broke out during the siege of the city by the Spartans in the early summer of 430 BC; after a brief Spartans in the early summer of 430 BC; after a brief hiatus in 428 BC, the epidemic returned in the hiatus in 428 BC, the epidemic returned in the winter of 427 BC and lasted until the winter of the winter of 427 BC and lasted until the winter of the following year. It is assumed that one-third of the following year. It is assumed that one-third of the Athenians, including one-fourth of their army and Athenians, including one-fourth of their army and their charismatic leader, Pericles, perished in the their charismatic leader, Pericles, perished in the epidemic.epidemic.
Kerameikos, the Athens cemetery, is Kerameikos, the Athens cemetery, is named after Keramos, son of named after Keramos, son of Dionysios and Ariadne, hero of Dionysios and Ariadne, hero of potters.potters.
Connect that with our discussion on Connect that with our discussion on hero cults.hero cults.
Kerameus in greek means potterKerameus in greek means potter
The site of a mass grave and The site of a mass grave and nearly 1,000 tombs from the nearly 1,000 tombs from the fourth and fifth century B.C. fourth and fifth century B.C.
From From Archaeology magazineArchaeology magazine A unique mass grave and nearly 1,000 tombs from the fifth A unique mass grave and nearly 1,000 tombs from the fifth
and fourth century B.C. were recovered during excavations and fourth century B.C. were recovered during excavations prior to construction of a subway station just outside prior to construction of a subway station just outside Athens' ancient Kerameikos cemetery. Both the mass grave Athens' ancient Kerameikos cemetery. Both the mass grave and the tombs were destroyed after rescue excavations. and the tombs were destroyed after rescue excavations.
Located near the surface, the mass grave was excavated Located near the surface, the mass grave was excavated during 1994-95 by Efi Baziotopoulou-Valavani of the Third during 1994-95 by Efi Baziotopoulou-Valavani of the Third Ephoreia (Directorate) of Antiquities. Inside a shaft were Ephoreia (Directorate) of Antiquities. Inside a shaft were some 90 skeletons, ten belonging to children. some 90 skeletons, ten belonging to children. Baziotopoulou thinks a tumulus crowning the shaft may Baziotopoulou thinks a tumulus crowning the shaft may have contained 150 people. Skeletons in the graves were have contained 150 people. Skeletons in the graves were placed helter-skelter with no soil between them. It was placed helter-skelter with no soil between them. It was bordered by a low wall that seems to have protected the bordered by a low wall that seems to have protected the cemetery from a marsh. Along with the skeletons, various cemetery from a marsh. Along with the skeletons, various ceramic burial offerings were found, far fewer than ceramic burial offerings were found, far fewer than excavators expected. excavators expected.
The fifth-century B.C. Greek historian The fifth-century B.C. Greek historian Thucydides detailed the panic caused by the Thucydides detailed the panic caused by the plague, which struck Athens and Sparta in plague, which struck Athens and Sparta in 430 and lasted two years, killing nearly a 430 and lasted two years, killing nearly a third of the population. He wrote that bodies third of the population. He wrote that bodies were abandoned in temples and streets, were abandoned in temples and streets, where they were collected and hastily where they were collected and hastily buried. The disease reappeared in the winter buried. The disease reappeared in the winter of 427 B.C. of 427 B.C.
A white-ground A white-ground lekythos (oil flask), lekythos (oil flask), left and a black-left and a black-glazed pot, right glazed pot, right [were recovered [were recovered from a mass grave. from a mass grave.
Plague could be associated with Plague could be associated with problems in communication with the problems in communication with the divine, see begnning of divine, see begnning of IliadIliad
Displeasure of godsDispleasure of gods Need to please the godsNeed to please the gods Purification/cleansing ritesPurification/cleansing rites
The Plague of Athens and the The Plague of Athens and the Cult of AsclepiusCult of Asclepius
The plague had an enormous effect on the The plague had an enormous effect on the imagination, self-esteem of the cityimagination, self-esteem of the city
Influences in literary genres, especially Influences in literary genres, especially tragedy.tragedy.
Robin Mitchell-Boyask’ s work studies the Robin Mitchell-Boyask’ s work studies the impact of the plague on Athenian tragedy in impact of the plague on Athenian tragedy in the 420s and argues that the development of the 420s and argues that the development of the cult of Asclepius (healer god) is related, the cult of Asclepius (healer god) is related, investigating the relations between drama, investigating the relations between drama, healing and the polis afflicted by the plague.healing and the polis afflicted by the plague.
AsclepiusAsclepius Healing god,Healing god, Son of Apollo and Coronis (his mother was killed, Son of Apollo and Coronis (his mother was killed,
laid out on a funeral pyre to be consumed, but laid out on a funeral pyre to be consumed, but the unborn child was rescued from her wombthe unborn child was rescued from her womb
parallel with Dionysus story. parallel with Dionysus story. The cult of Asclepios was very popular. His The cult of Asclepios was very popular. His
healing temples were called Ahealing temples were called Asclepieion; pilgrims ; pilgrims went to them to be healed. They slept overnight went to them to be healed. They slept overnight and reported their dreams to a priest the and reported their dreams to a priest the following day to find a cure.following day to find a cure.
Famous Asclepieion near theater of EpidaurusFamous Asclepieion near theater of Epidaurus Ritual of incubationRitual of incubation
