Oracle

Greek The spokesperson of the ruling deity of a shrine. The oracle answered people's questions about the future or the past. These utterances were regarded as profoundly wise and authoritative, since they were supposed to come from the gods. The answers of the oracles were often obscure, ambiguous, and misleading, yet kings and peasants alike eagerly sought their advice. Priests, who were paid for their services, tended the shrine. It was in their interests to make sure that the words of the oracle were vague. In this way, the priests would not be blamed for disastrous events that occurred from following the advice of the oracles. There were many oracles in ancient Greece. The most famous was the oracle at Delphi, who spoke the words of the god Apollo through the mouth of Python. The oracle at Dodona spoke the words of Zeus. Other oracles include those of Artemis at Colchis, Asclepius at Epidaurus, Heracles at Athens, Ares in Thrace, Athene at Mycenae, Pan in Arcadia, and Aphrodite at Paphos, in Crete.