The Role of Oracles and Dreams in Herodotus' the History
usChristina Bramanti
October 5, 2012
CLAS 20105
The Role of Oracles, and Dreams in Herodotus’ The History
Throughout Herodotus’ The History, Oracles, and dreams play an important role. While the gods have almost no presence throughout the book, the Oracles and/or dreams are linked to many of the major events. We first encounter the Oracles in Book I, when Croesus asks the Oracles at Delphi if he should attack the Persians, the Oracle replies telling him (in a very ambiguous way) that if he fights, he will destroy a great empire (7.12). Unbeknownst to Croesus, the empire he will destroy will be his own. However, this answer from the Oracle is one of the things that convinces Croesus to attack Persia, in a manner jumpstarting the war. It could be that Croesus was always fated to destroy his empire, for the Pythia said, “Fate that is decreed, no one can escape, not even a god. Croesus has paid for the offense of his ancestor” (1.91). This was important to remember throughout the book. Whether Herodotus believed it or not, the Oracles and Magi believed that one could neither change nor escape fate. In Book VII, the Oracles tell the Athenians that a wall of wood and Salamis will save Athens. When the Athenians first consulted the Pythia at Delphi, whose name was Aristonice, their demise was foretold. They asked for a different oracle. “My Lord,” they asked, “give us a better oracle about our fatherland; be moved to pity the suppliant boughs with which we come before you, or we will never go away from your shrine but remain right here till we die” (7.141). The priestess replied:
No: Athena cannot appease great Zeus of Olympus
With many eloquent words and all her cunning counsel.
To you I declare again this word, and make it as iron:
All shall be taken by foemen, whatever within his border
Cecrops contains, and whatever the glades of sacred Cithaeron.
Yet to Tritogeneia hall Zeus, loud-voiced, give a present,
A wall of wood, which alone shall abide
October 5, 2012
CLAS 20105
The Role of Oracles, and Dreams in Herodotus’ The History
Throughout Herodotus’ The History, Oracles, and dreams play an important role. While the gods have almost no presence throughout the book, the Oracles and/or dreams are linked to many of the major events. We first encounter the Oracles in Book I, when Croesus asks the Oracles at Delphi if he should attack the Persians, the Oracle replies telling him (in a very ambiguous way) that if he fights, he will destroy a great empire (7.12). Unbeknownst to Croesus, the empire he will destroy will be his own. However, this answer from the Oracle is one of the things that convinces Croesus to attack Persia, in a manner jumpstarting the war. It could be that Croesus was always fated to destroy his empire, for the Pythia said, “Fate that is decreed, no one can escape, not even a god. Croesus has paid for the offense of his ancestor” (1.91). This was important to remember throughout the book. Whether Herodotus believed it or not, the Oracles and Magi believed that one could neither change nor escape fate. In Book VII, the Oracles tell the Athenians that a wall of wood and Salamis will save Athens. When the Athenians first consulted the Pythia at Delphi, whose name was Aristonice, their demise was foretold. They asked for a different oracle. “My Lord,” they asked, “give us a better oracle about our fatherland; be moved to pity the suppliant boughs with which we come before you, or we will never go away from your shrine but remain right here till we die” (7.141). The priestess replied:
No: Athena cannot appease great Zeus of Olympus
With many eloquent words and all her cunning counsel.
To you I declare again this word, and make it as iron:
All shall be taken by foemen, whatever within his border
Cecrops contains, and whatever the glades of sacred Cithaeron.
Yet to Tritogeneia hall Zeus, loud-voiced, give a present,
A wall of wood, which alone shall abide