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The Art of Living

The Delphic Injunctions

Massimo Pigliucci philosophises about prophetic principles.

For hundreds of years during Antiquity people went on pilgrimages to the Oracle at Delphi in Greece, hoping for prophecies that would help them in their lives. This included everyone from kings to regular folks. Even today you can sense the attraction: I went to Delphi three times, and it really is a magical place even if one doesn’t believe in magic.

One of my favorite stories about Delphi is a wonderful example of political genius dressed up as religious interpretation. In 480 BCE, with Xerxes’ massive Persian army already marching through Greece, the Athenians sent envoys to Delphi in near panic.

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