Pythia: Difference between revisions
imported>Lady Kyashira mNo edit summary |
imported>Sadelyrate No edit summary |
||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
{{WP-REAL}} | {{WP-REAL}} | ||
{{Otheruses|the Oracle of Delphi|[[Pythia (disambiguation)|Pythia]]}} | {{Otheruses|the Oracle of Delphi|[[Pythia (disambiguation)|Pythia]]}} | ||
{{Quote|Most want to know about love or death. I tell them what they want to hear. But when people want to know about war or politics, I'm paid very well to tell them what the Cult wants them to hear.|The Pythia, on the Cult of Kosmos' influence, 431 BCE.|Assassin's Creed: Odyssey|The Truth Will Out}} | {{Quote|Most want to know about love or death. I tell them what they want to hear. But when people want to know about war or politics, I'm paid very well to tell them what the Cult wants them to hear.|The Pythia, on the Cult of Kosmos' influence, 431 BCE.|Assassin's Creed: Odyssey|The Truth Will Out}} | ||
[[File: | [[File:DTAG Delphic Sybil - Michelangelo.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Michelangelo]]'s painting of the Delphic oracle]] | ||
The '''Pythia''', also known as the '''Oracle of Delphi''', was the high priestess of the [[Temple of Apollo, Delphi|Temple]] of [[Apollo]] in [[Sanctuary of Delphi|Delphi]] who delivered prophecies to all who visited her. | The '''Pythia''', also known as the '''Oracle of Delphi''', was the high priestess of the [[Temple of Apollo, Delphi|Temple]] of [[Apollo]] in [[Sanctuary of Delphi|Delphi]] who delivered prophecies to all who visited her. | ||
| Line 11: | Line 10: | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
===Mythical age=== | ===Mythical age=== | ||
According to the story of the legendary hero [[Perseus]], his grandfather, king [[Akrisios]] of [[Argos]], visited the Pythia and was told that he would be slain by his grandson. Due to trying to avoid his fate, Akrisios brought it upon himself.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[A Treasury of Legends]]</ref> | According to the story of the legendary hero [[Perseus]], his grandfather, king [[Akrisios]] of [[Argos]], visited the Pythia and was told that he would be slain by his grandson. Due to trying to avoid his fate, Akrisios brought it upon himself.<ref name="Treasury of Legends">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[A Treasury of Legends]]</ref> | ||
===Archaic period=== | ===Archaic period=== | ||
In the late 7th century BCE, the [[Thera]]n [[Battus I of Cyrene|Battus I]] visited the Pythia to seek advice, including one on his home which had been plagued with a severe drought with no rain for 7 years. The Pythia prophesied that Battus should travel to [[Libya]] and establish there a city on advice from Apollo. Accepting her advice, Battus I led a group of Therans to Libya, founding the city of [[Cyrene]] and the colony of [[Cyrenaica]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''</ref> | In the late 7th century BCE, the [[Thera]]n [[Battus I of Cyrene|Battus I]] visited the Pythia to seek advice, including one on his home which had been plagued with a severe drought with no rain for 7 years. The Pythia prophesied that Battus should travel to [[Libya]] and establish there a city on advice from Apollo. Accepting her advice, Battus I led a group of Therans to Libya, founding the city of [[Cyrene]] and the colony of [[Cyrenaica]].<ref name="ACO">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''</ref> | ||
===Classical period=== | ===Classical period=== | ||
[[File:ACOD Pythia Leonidas.png|thumb|250px|left|The Pythia attempting to dissuade Leonidas]] | [[File:ACOD Pythia Leonidas.png|thumb|250px|left|The Pythia attempting to dissuade Leonidas]] | ||
At least since the [[Greco-Persian Wars]], the Pythia had been corrupted by the [[Cult of Kosmos]], who manipulated them into giving false prophecies to individuals who sought their wisdom. Using an [[Isu]] [[Pyramid (Isu)|artifact]] in the [[Sanctuary of Kosmos]], the Pythia were given glimpses of the future, which the Cult used for their own benefits and goals.<ref name="The Truth Will Out">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[The Truth Will Out]]</ref> In 480 BCE, King [[Leonidas I of Sparta]] sought out the [[Pythia (480 BCE)|Pythia]] for advice into going to war with King [[Xerxes I of Persia]], who began a {{Wiki|Second Persian invasion of Greece|second invasion}} of [[Greece]]. The Cult were present alongside the Pythia, who attempted to dissuade Leonidas from warring, stating that his efforts would be fruitless. However, Leonidas defied the Pythia and Cult and led his men to meet Xerxes' army at the [[Hot Gates of Thermopylai]].<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Bully the Bullies]]</ref> | At least since the [[Greco-Persian Wars]], the Pythia had been corrupted by the [[Cult of Kosmos]], who manipulated them into giving false prophecies to individuals who sought their wisdom. Using an [[Isu]] [[Pyramid (Isu)|artifact]] in the [[Sanctuary of Kosmos]], the Pythia were given glimpses of the future, which the Cult used for their own benefits and goals.<ref name="The Truth Will Out">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[The Truth Will Out]]</ref> In 480 BCE, King [[Leonidas I of Sparta]] sought out the [[Pythia (480 BCE)|Pythia]] for advice into going to war with King [[Xerxes I of Persia]], who began a {{Wiki|Second Persian invasion of Greece|second invasion}} of [[Greece]]. The Cult were present alongside the Pythia, who attempted to dissuade Leonidas from warring, stating that his efforts would be fruitless. However, Leonidas defied the Pythia and Cult and led his men to meet Xerxes' army at the [[Hot Gates of Thermopylai]].<ref name="Bully the Bullies">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Bully the Bullies]]</ref> | ||
When [[Kassandra]] was a baby, her mother [[Myrrine]] took her to see the acting Pythia, and the oracle said the child had "such promise."<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Catching Up]]</ref> | When [[Kassandra]] was a baby, her mother [[Myrrine]] took her to see the acting Pythia, and the oracle said the child had "such promise."<ref name="Catching Up">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Catching Up]]</ref> | ||
Similarly, when Myrrine's youngest child [[Alexios]] was born, he was taken to see the Pythia, whose role was played by [[Praxithea]] at the time. Under the orders of the Cult to relay false prophecies according to their designs, Praxithea proclaimed that Myrrine's youngest child had to die to prevent the downfall of [[Sparta]].<ref name="Sins of the Past">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Sins of the Past]]</ref> Nevertheless, the plan failed as both Alexios and Kassandra, who tried to stop and was dropped by [[Nikolaos]],<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Debt Collector]]</ref> ultimately survived.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey''</ref> | Similarly, when Myrrine's youngest child [[Alexios]] was born, he was taken to see the Pythia, whose role was played by [[Praxithea]] at the time. Under the orders of the Cult to relay false prophecies according to their designs, Praxithea proclaimed that Myrrine's youngest child had to die to prevent the downfall of [[Sparta]].<ref name="Sins of the Past">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Sins of the Past]]</ref> Nevertheless, the plan failed as both Alexios and Kassandra, who tried to stop and was dropped by [[Nikolaos]],<ref name="Debt Collector">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Debt Collector]]</ref> ultimately survived.<ref name="ACOd">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey''</ref> | ||
[[File:The Truth Will Out - Assassins Creed Odyssey.png|thumb|250px|The Pythia confronted by Kassandra in 431 BCE]] | [[File:The Truth Will Out - Assassins Creed Odyssey.png|thumb|250px|The Pythia confronted by Kassandra in 431 BCE]] | ||
By the time of the [[Peloponnesian War]], Praxithea had stepped down as the Pythia and was succeeded by another [[Pythia (431 BCE)|oracle]]. The guilt from her giving the false prophecies eventually led | By the time of the [[Peloponnesian War]], Praxithea had stepped down as the Pythia and was succeeded by another [[Pythia (431 BCE)|oracle]]. The guilt from her giving the false prophecies eventually led Praxithea to confess to her grandchildren [[Lykaon]] and [[Agave]], both of whom wanted to take matters into their own hands and bring her to justice.<ref name="Sins of the Past" /> | ||
In 431 BCE, the Spartan ''[[Mercenary|misthios]]'' Kassandra visited the Pythia at the suggestion of the captain of the ''[[Adrestia]]'', [[Barnabas]].<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Consulting a Ghost]]</ref> | In 431 BCE, the Spartan ''[[Mercenary|misthios]]'' Kassandra visited the Pythia at the suggestion of the captain of the ''[[Adrestia]]'', [[Barnabas]].<ref name="Consulting a Ghost">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Consulting a Ghost]]</ref> | ||
==Appearances== | ==Appearances== | ||
Revision as of 11:48, 7 July 2020
The Pythia, also known as the Oracle of Delphi, was the high priestess of the Temple of Apollo in Delphi who delivered prophecies to all who visited her.
Pythia was a title given to any woman who served in the role at a given period, and the position was widely regarded as sacrosanct throughout Greece. Throughout the first millennium BCE, her counsel had enormous sociopolitical influence because of the faith the highly religious Greeks placed upon her connection with Apollo. She was commonly selected among the villagers in the region, such as those living at the Chora of Delphi. [citation needed]
History
Mythical age
According to the story of the legendary hero Perseus, his grandfather, king Akrisios of Argos, visited the Pythia and was told that he would be slain by his grandson. Due to trying to avoid his fate, Akrisios brought it upon himself.[1]
Archaic period
In the late 7th century BCE, the Theran Battus I visited the Pythia to seek advice, including one on his home which had been plagued with a severe drought with no rain for 7 years. The Pythia prophesied that Battus should travel to Libya and establish there a city on advice from Apollo. Accepting her advice, Battus I led a group of Therans to Libya, founding the city of Cyrene and the colony of Cyrenaica.[2]
Classical period
At least since the Greco-Persian Wars, the Pythia had been corrupted by the Cult of Kosmos, who manipulated them into giving false prophecies to individuals who sought their wisdom. Using an Isu artifact in the Sanctuary of Kosmos, the Pythia were given glimpses of the future, which the Cult used for their own benefits and goals.[3] In 480 BCE, King Leonidas I of Sparta sought out the Pythia for advice into going to war with King Xerxes I of Persia, who began a second invasion of Greece. The Cult were present alongside the Pythia, who attempted to dissuade Leonidas from warring, stating that his efforts would be fruitless. However, Leonidas defied the Pythia and Cult and led his men to meet Xerxes' army at the Hot Gates of Thermopylai.[4]
When Kassandra was a baby, her mother Myrrine took her to see the acting Pythia, and the oracle said the child had "such promise."[5] Similarly, when Myrrine's youngest child Alexios was born, he was taken to see the Pythia, whose role was played by Praxithea at the time. Under the orders of the Cult to relay false prophecies according to their designs, Praxithea proclaimed that Myrrine's youngest child had to die to prevent the downfall of Sparta.[6] Nevertheless, the plan failed as both Alexios and Kassandra, who tried to stop and was dropped by Nikolaos,[7] ultimately survived.[8]
By the time of the Peloponnesian War, Praxithea had stepped down as the Pythia and was succeeded by another oracle. The guilt from her giving the false prophecies eventually led Praxithea to confess to her grandchildren Lykaon and Agave, both of whom wanted to take matters into their own hands and bring her to justice.[6]
In 431 BCE, the Spartan misthios Kassandra visited the Pythia at the suggestion of the captain of the Adrestia, Barnabas.[9]
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed: Origins (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
References
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – A Treasury of Legends
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Origins
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – The Truth Will Out
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Bully the Bullies
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Catching Up
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Sins of the Past
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Debt Collector
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Consulting a Ghost