12-16-2005, 06:37 AM
I would point you to, The Delphic Oracle. Its Responses and Operation With a Catalogue of Responses, Josepah Fontenrose, 1978. Chapter VII, The Mantic Session discuses these so called vapours. Fontenrose lists the ancient and more modern interpretations of the actions of the Pythia. He concludes that there was indeed no vapours.
I believe that this concept of "vapours" has its roots in the need to explain the oracle in practical or scientific terms. For those of us who are too scientific I would point to Socrates and Plato. In the Phaedra, Socrates informs us that the greatest blessings come to us through madness. He then mentions four types of madness and their sources. Prophetic madness from Apollo. Ritual madness from Dionysius. Poetic madness from the Muses. And erotic madness from Aphrodite.
To full understand the happenings at Delphi, I think we need to better understand the Greek concept of "enthusiasm". Translated roughly meaning full of god or having a god in your thumos.
Check with Stephanos for the concept.
I do not think modern scientific explanations will help you much with the Pythia and Delphi. This coming from someone who teaches science.
Kevin
I believe that this concept of "vapours" has its roots in the need to explain the oracle in practical or scientific terms. For those of us who are too scientific I would point to Socrates and Plato. In the Phaedra, Socrates informs us that the greatest blessings come to us through madness. He then mentions four types of madness and their sources. Prophetic madness from Apollo. Ritual madness from Dionysius. Poetic madness from the Muses. And erotic madness from Aphrodite.
To full understand the happenings at Delphi, I think we need to better understand the Greek concept of "enthusiasm". Translated roughly meaning full of god or having a god in your thumos.
Check with Stephanos for the concept.
I do not think modern scientific explanations will help you much with the Pythia and Delphi. This coming from someone who teaches science.
Kevin
