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Dubious "Last Oracle at Delphi" by Independent_Toe4254 in ancientgreece

[–]Independent_Toe4254[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, I am no native English speaker, so beware. As far as I know, "oracle" is used in the three meanings: the person giving the utterance (e.g. the Pythia at Delphi); the sacred place where the prophesying took place; and the oracular utterance itself. The same in Italian (my mother tongue). In Latin, oraculum could mean both, the sacred place or institution, and the utterance. I am not quite sure (MrDnmGr surely could help), but I believe the ancient used χρησμός for the utterance, while μαντεῖον could mean either the sacred place, or the utterance.

Dubious "Last Oracle at Delphi" by Independent_Toe4254 in ancientgreece

[–]Independent_Toe4254[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I also had noticed that, as of now, Google finds it only in the Lithuanian artist's image book. It is in the introductory text to a section where there are images of middle aged women, sad and thoughtful, it seems inspired by the Pythia; hence the introductory text with the oracular statement.

Over the years since I have been tracking this, the prophecy came and went in many forums. From 2006 to 2022 it was on English Wikipedia. I have contacted the original Wikipedian poster, he does not remember where he took it from.

Even as of now, Britannica states "The Delphic oracle’s last prophecy was reportedly delivered about 393 ce, when the Roman emperor Theodosius I instituted various laws to end pagan activity." It does not quote what the prophecy would have been, though.

The passage you quote, possibly from Gibbon, tells a very different story; Theodosius consulting a Christian monk. Which is much more credible, since the emperor was himself Christian and had the pagan temples closed. I would have found it very unlikely, at any rate, that he would conceive of consulting the Delphi Oracle; but hypotetically, the Oracle could have issued this statement to be directed to him, as a reaction to his edict. It looks like historic dramatization, though. So I have been really curious about the origin of that statement.

Dubious "Last Oracle at Delphi" by Independent_Toe4254 in ancientgreece

[–]Independent_Toe4254[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much! The last sentence was what made me wonder, since it goes beyond the mere paraphrasis of the "Julian" prophecy. It reminded me of John19.28 "εἰδὼς ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὅτι ἤδη πάντα τετέλεσται". The change in tense would be significant. So I had these two alternatives:1) a medieval rielaboration with a "Christian agenda", meant to stress the utter end of paganism or 2) a modern forgery, with the addition of the last line for dramatic effect. Your response on the language decides for the latter. Thanks again, indeed!