The Trouble with Oracles - Apollo's Oracle at Delphi (myth)

The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that it was not wise to anger the gods. They built temples all over the place. Each temple, no matter how elaborate, honored only one god. The major gods had lots of temples built in their honor.

Many temples were built to honor Apollo. He was a favorite god. Apollo was the god of music, reason, and light. Apollo's chariot brought up the sun each day.

Apollo had other powers. One was a very special skill - Apollo could see the future. He had the gift of prophecy. Many people brought gifts to Apollo, and asked for advice in exchange. Apollo liked the attention. And the gifts. It was all very nice, but it was also exhausting.

As the story goes ....

One day, Apollo decided that what he needed was an oracle, a wise woman to speak for him. In ancient times, an oracle was a person who could predict and interpret the future.

Apollo used some magic and established his oracle in a temple at Delphi. There were many oracles, or fortune tellers. Apollo's oracle at Delphi was the most famous.

The predictions made by other oracles were rather vague. A normal oracle might answer, "Yes, the frost will be gone, and spring will come, if the gods decree it." Such an answer was not much help if your question was, "Should I plant my garden tomorrow?"

Apollo's oracle had to tell people the truth, and she could not just answer yes or no. The oracle had to make a truthful statement. It was up to you, the listener, to figure out what she meant by it. Sometimes people misunderstood what she was telling them. That was the trouble with oracles, even the best of them.

There is an old story about Apollo's oracle that went something like this ....

Once upon a time, a long time ago, a weary king traveled to Delphi to ask the oracle, "Who will win the battle tomorrow?"

The oracle smiled at him, and gently answered, "A great king."

The king was very happy to hear this. He left many gifts for the oracle, and went quickly away to ready his men for battle, quite pleased that he had come.

What he had overlooked in his haste is that more than one king would lead his men to battle in the morning. An oracle's smile meant nothing.