FAME

    Apollo's Oracle at His sanctuary in Delphi achieved fame for a thousand years. For 10 centuries, before a Roman emperor terminated the operation of the temple, people from all over Greece--and beyond--made pilgrimages to Delphia seeking prophetic advice and religious sanction for contemplated actions.

    Judging from our admittedly sparse records of its prophecies, the Delphic Oracle did not ordinarily make ambiguous predictions and recommendations. The Pythian priestess, seated on the sacred tripod, inspired by the god Apollo, made pronouncements about future events and gave exceptionally good, clear and specific counsel.

    There were many oracular establishment in Greece. And oraclemongers, such as the comic dramatist Aristophanes joked about, must have been a common sight. But the Delphic Oracle maintained a legendary reputation throughout much of its millennial existence.